In this article, we’ll look at the top 18 most selling mobile phone brands in the world. You can skip the detailed analysis of smartphone market insights and trends, and head straight to the 5 Most Selling Phone Brands in the World.
Global shipments of smartphones declined by 12% in 2022 to reach 1.2 billion units, the lowest since 2013. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) replaced Samsung by achieving the highest-ever global smartphone shipment in the last quarter of 2022, securing around 23% market share in Q4 2022, with the launch of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPhone 14.
The Challenges Faced by Smartphone Chip Manufacturing in Keeping up with Moore’s Law
While smartphones may not match the processing power of PCs and servers, their chips have been at the forefront of the manufacturing industry. Initially, the chips were 10nm and 7nm (nanometers) in size, but with the advancement in technology, 5nm chips have been introduced, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s latest iPhone iterations boasting the 4nm chip process. Now companies like TSMC are hoping to develop 2nm chips, which means you can expect smaller chips with better efficiency and higher transistor density.
When discussing nanometers and transistor density, Moore’s Law, which states that the number of transistors placed on silicon doubles every year, plays a significant role. It predicts a consistent advancement in processing technology. However, when the manufacturing process for chips is evaluated through the lens of Moore’s Law, the slowing down of technological processes is likely to be on the verge in the coming years.
While the transistor density continues to improve, it may be challenging for chip manufacturers to move to 2nm or smaller in the coming years, as maintaining pace with Moore’s Law is becoming increasingly difficult due to the shrinking of chip geometrics. It means that Moore’s Law is under strain.
Manufacturers are still able to deliver significant improvements in chip manufacturing through innovations that radically change the transistor structure and constituent materials, despite chip densities not doubling every two years with the past consistency.
Prominent innovations include the replacement of the planar structure with the FinFET structure and the use of high k insulating films/metal gates to suppress gate leak current. Companies like Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.), and Samsung have also invested in ASML to enable smaller chip circuits and larger wafers.
In the future, transistor structures are expected to evolve from FinFET to Gate-All-Around, where the channel’s region is surrounded by a gate that will help suppress the leak current and increase the gate’s current driving power. Silicon and strained silicon for the channel region are likely to be replaced with germanium and group III-V compounds, allowing for high-speed transistor operation.
Furthermore, two-dimensional (2D) materials are being researched as transistor channel materials, and stacking circuits three-dimensionally (3D) are also being considered in case 2D scaling fails. These developments are expected to develop chips beyond 1nm and increase the integration level per unit area, further extending the life of Moore’s Law.
The industry’s move to 450mm wafers will also allow for more chips to be produced at a lower cost.
Market Outlook
The COVID-19 impact — mainly shortage of semiconductor components, travel restrictions, and higher logistics costs— drastically disrupted the growth in the smartphone sector. However, the market vendors introduced innovative solutions like 5G adaption to improve buying behavior, resulting in positive post-pandemic market growth.
The global revenue in the smartphone industry amounts to $0.48 trillion in 2023, with China generating the highest revenue, at $119.20 billion. The share of 5G phones — which observed a significant jump from 46.6% in 2022 to 62% in 2023 — is anticipated to reach 73.8% by 2025.
Technavio forecasts that the global market will grow at a CAGR of 3.44% through 2027, with the Asian-Pacific region being the key region for growth. The region is expected to register the highest growth rate of 66% between 2022 to 2027.
Persistence Market Research’s countrywide insights predict that Apple handsets will continue to dominate the U.S. market, with the North American market forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% between 2021 to 2031. In Europe, the UK is predicted to register the highest growth with around 8.1% CAGR in the forecasted period. India, followed by China, accounts for the largest smartphone consumption in APAC and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.5%.
In addition to this, Fortune Business Insights anticipate that 5G phones will replace the existing handsets within the next 5 years. The huge demand for Apple smartphones is expected to cause dramatic growth in the iOS segment.
Pixabay/Public Domain
Methodology
For our list of 18 best-selling smartphone brands worldwide, we have ranked them in ascending order of the number of mobile phone units sold in the latest year, for which the data is publicly available.
To support our research, we’ve collected data from various reputable sources, including individual reports for each brand and ranking reports by International Data Corporation (IDC) and CounterPoint Research, to get deeper insights into the worldwide market of major phone companies in recent years.
We also used data from the Mobile Vendor Market Share Worldwide report by Stat Counter for the global market share of top smartphone brands in 2022.
Here is our list of the 18 most selling phone brands in the world:
Most Selling Smartphone Brands in the World
18. Alcatel
Units Sold in 2022: 2+ million (estimated)
Alcatel is best known for the One Touch mobile and tablet series. One Touch became an international technology brand in 2010 to design a range of Android smartphones. Its popular models such as Alcatel 3x, Alcatel 3, and Alcatel 1s are known for their durable build, camera quality, and battery capacity.
17. Panasonic
Units Sold in 2022: 4+ million (estimated)
Panasonic entered the smartphone market in 2012 with its first smartphone, the Panasonic Eluga. The company has released several smartphone models since then, catering to different price points and market segments.
Despite facing stiff competition from other smartphone manufacturers, Panasonic has managed to maintain a solid market share in some regions, with a net worth of around $30 billion. Panasonic’s flagship models, such as the Panasonic Eluga X1 Pro and Panasonic P91, offer high-end features such as water resistance and long battery life, catering to consumers looking for a premium smartphone experience.
16. Sony
Units Sold in 2021: 9.3 million
Sony has been selling smartphones under the Xperia brand since 2008, and since then, it has managed to establish a loyal fanbase. In FY2021, Sony sold around 9.3 million smartphones globally, a significant growth from the 2.9 million units sold in FY2020.
Sony smartphones are famous for their unique features such as OLED display and 5G connectivity. In fact, it was the first brand to introduce water-resistant handsets.
15. Google Pixel
Units Sold in 2022: 9.5 million
Google Pixel is a brand of consumer electronics, including smartphones, developed by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) released the first-generation pixel devices in the US in 2017.
Known for its superior camera performance, sleek design, and high-resolution screen, the Google Pixel has firmly established itself as a leading smartphone brand since its launch in 2013.
The latest Pixel 6 model sold a remarkable 5 million units worldwide between fall 2021 and fall 2022, adding to the 30 million units sold since its inception. According to Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) CEO Sundar Pichai, the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro are the best-selling models to date.
14. Nokia
Units Sold in 2021: 10.9 million
Nokia entered the smartphone market in the late 1990s with the launch of its first smartphone, the Nokia 9000 Communicator. However, the modern era of Nokia smartphones began in 2017 when HMD Global acquired the rights to use Nokia brands for its smartphones.
Nokia smartphones are known for their exceptional build quality, long battery life, and stock Android experience. It has a diverse range of smartphones, from budget devices like Nokia G50 and C21 Plus to flagship models like Nokia X30 and 9 PureView, catering to different segments of the market.
13. OnePlus
Units Sold in 2021: 11 million
With its headquarters located in Shenzhen, China, OnePlus has established itself as a global brand with a presence in over 34 countries. In 2021, it set a new record with the highest annual shipment of 11 million units. The company’s success continued into the first half of 2022, with the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G ranking as the second best-selling smartphone brand.
Its latest flagship models, the OnePlus 10 Pro, 9 Pro, and OnePlus 9 showcase OnePlus’ commitment to excellence in the highly competitive smartphone market.
12. Honor
Units Sold in 2022: 16 million (estimated)
Honor was established in 2013 as a subsidiary of the Chinese multinational technology company Huawei. Its smartphones are popular among consumers who are looking for high-quality devices at affordable prices, making it one of the most selling phone brands in the world.
Honor smartphones offer advanced features, sleek designs, and affordable prices. The company’s flagship models, such as the Honor View and Magic4 Ultimate, offer innovative features like advanced camera systems, fast charging, and AI technology.
11. Transsion
Units Sold in 2022: 30 million (estimated)
Transsion Holdings is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that has been able to dominate the African smartphone market with its Tecno and Itel brands. It was the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world in terms of sales volume in Q1 2021, trailing only behind Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi. Its portfolio of both feature and smartphone devices ranges from entry-level to premium, with a focus on the African market.
10. ASUS
Units Sold in 2022: 32 million
ASUS entered the smartphone market in 2014 with the launch of the ZenFone series. ASUS smartphones are known for their cutting-edge features, sleek designs, and competitive prices.
The company’s flagship models, such as the ROG Phone and ZenFone series, are popular for gaming-centric features, powerful processors, and high-quality cameras. ASUS is also focused on incorporating the latest technology and trends into its devices, such as the 5G network and foldable screens.
9. Huawei
Units Sold in 2022: 32.5 million (estimated)
Founded by Ren Zhengfei in 1987, Huawei has grown to become a global powerhouse with a presence in over 170 countries and a workforce of nearly 195,000 employees. In recognition of its commitment to its employees, Forbes ranked Huawei as one of the world’s best employers in 2021.
Huawei has a leading market share of smartphones in China, amounting to approximately 29%, and a worldwide share of 4.84% in 2022. The company reported a net profit of $17.8 billion by the end of 2021.
8. Motorola
Units Sold in 2022: 35 million
Motorola is known for its affordable smartphones with high-tech functioning features. It earned the position of the third-largest smartphone brand in the US in 2021, with around 51 million units sold and shipped across the globe. However, its sales declined in 2022 as compared to the previous year.
Popular mobile phones launched by Motorola are Razr, MOTO G8 Plus, Mate X, MOTO Z3, MOTO Z4, Motorola One Action, and Motorola G7 Plus.
7. Realme
Units Sold in 2022: 36 million
Realme was founded in 2018 by Sky Li, and the brand has witnessed fast growth since then. It was initially launched as a sub-brand of Oppo, but eventually became an independent brand in 2018.
Realme is one of the fastest-growing 5G smartphone brands, accounting for around 36 million handsets sold in 2022. It captures a huge market in India, with around 2.7 million units sold in the country in the fourth quarter of 2022.
6. ZTE
Units Sold in 2022: 40 million (estimated)
ZTE has been in the smartphone market since 2010, and its devices are known for their affordability, durability, and innovative features. In 2020, the company made headlines by releasing the Axon 20, the world’s first smartphone that features an under-screen camera.
In 2019, the ZTE Axon 10 Pro was awarded the gold prize for Innovative Products at the World Manufacturing Convention, cementing the brand’s reputation for delivering cutting-edge devices to its customers. ZTE smartphones are available in a wide range of price points and cater to various market segments, making them a highly sought-after choice for consumers across multiple regions.
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Disclosure: none. 18 Most Selling Phone Brands in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.