Strategy Analytics: China's smartphone shipments in Q4 2021 were 83.8 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 6.5%

The latest research from Strategy Analytics shows that in Q4 2021, China's smartphone shipments fell 6.5% year-on-year to 83.8 million units. The weak Q4 performance dragged down the full-year shipments in 2021 to 329.3 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 2.0%. Apple topped the Chinese smartphone market for the first time in Q4 2021 with a record market share of 22%.

Wu Yiwen, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, said: "In the fourth quarter of 2021, China's smartphone shipments fell 6.5% year-on-year to 83.8 million units, which was caused by unfavorable market conditions - mainly including extended replacement cycles, uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, mixed consumer spending power and supply constraints. China's full-year smartphone shipments in 2021 fell from 336 million units in 2020 to 329.3 million units in 2021, a year-on-year decrease of 2%."

Sui Qian, senior director of Strategy Analytics, pointed out: "Apple performed well in Q4 2021 - due to Huawei's strategic withdrawal from the high-end market, Apple's iPhone shipments in China reached 18.5 million units, and it topped the Chinese market for the first time with a record 22% market share. Due to the competitive pricing and reliable channel promotion of the iPhone 13 series, its shipments increased by 9% year-on-year. For the whole year of 2021, Apple ranked fourth with a market share of 15%, behind vivo, OPPO (OnePlus) and Xiaomi."

Neil Mawston, Executive Director of Strategy Analytics, added: "In Q4 2021, Honor ranked third in China with a 17% market share and shipments of 14.2 million units. Honor continued to maintain strong growth momentum in the domestic market, thanks to its product portfolio & successful expansion of online and offline channels, as well as solid partnerships with major suppliers and distributors. Honor ranked fifth in the Chinese market for the whole year of 2021. Xiaomi ranked fifth in Q4 2021, up 8% year-on-year, mainly due to the solid performance of online channels, and ranked third for the whole year of 2021."

Woody Oh, director of Strategy Analytics, said: "OPPO (OnePlus) ranked second in the Chinese market with an 18% market share in Q4 2021. Its sister brand vivo fell to fourth place with a market share of 16%. Both manufacturers faced an unfavorable environment, including fierce competition from Honor, mixed performance of online channels, and poor product launch cycles. However, the two manufacturers maintained the top two positions in the Chinese market throughout 2021, surpassing Xiaomi, Apple and Honor."

Figure 1: China’s smartphone shipments and market share in Q4 2021 and the whole year of 2021