The worldwide mobile phone market recorded shipments of 406.0 million units in Q2 2012, a 1% increase over the same quarter a year ago. The smartphone market continued to drive this growth, recording an increase of 42.1% year-over-year, with shipments reaching 153.9 million units compared to 108.3 million units in Q2 2011. Samsung and Apple combined to account for nearly half of the smartphone market by shipping 76.2 million units.
“Samsung and Apple have quickly become the global smartphone heavyweights though both employ somewhat different approaches to the market,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Samsung employs a ‘shotgun’ strategy wherein many models are created that cover a wide range of market segments. Apple, in contrast, offers a small number of high-profile models. While both companies have expanded their geographic presence in pursuit of market share, the two companies will inevitably come into greater conflict as both try to generate additional gains.”
The following table shows the top five vendors:
| Vendor | 2Q12 Unit Shipments | 2Q12 Market Share | 2Q11 Unit Shipments | 2Q11 Market Share | Year-over-year Change |
| Samsung | 50.2 | 32.6% | 18.4 | 17.0% | 172.8% |
| Apple | 26.0 | 16.9% | 20.4 | 18.8% | 27.5% |
| Nokia | 10.2 | 6.6% | 16.7 | 15.4% | -38.9% |
| HTC | 8.8 | 5.7% | 11.6 | 10.7% | -24.1% |
| ZTE | 8.0 | 5.2% | 2.0 | 1.8% | 300.0% |
| Others | 50.7 | 32.9% | 39.2 | 36.2% | 29.3% |
| Total | 153.9 | 100.0% | 108.3 | 100.0% | 42.1% |
Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, July 26, 2012
Both Nokia and HTC lost market share from last year. You’ll also notice that Research In Motion has dropped out of the top five.
In the overall mobile phone market, the top five are Samsung (97.8 million units shipped / 24.1% market share), Nokia (83.7 million units shipped / 20.6% market share), Apple (26.0 million units shipped / 6.4% market share), ZTE (17.7 million units shipped / 4.4% market share) and LG Electronics (13.1 million units shipped / 3.2% market share).
Read more: IDC