Huawei Pips Apple to Become Second Largest Smartphone Brand in Q1 2019, iPhone X Bestselling Phone of 2018: Counterpoint Research

Huawei’s Q1 2019 shipments increased nearly 50 percent year-over-year.

Advertisement
By Gaurav Shukla | Updated: 1 May 2019 14:33 IST
Highlights
  • Samsung still tops the smartphone shipments
  • LG saw the biggest decline in shipments year-over-year
  • Oppo and Vivo’s shipments increased in the last quarter

Huawei’s global smartphone market share reached 17 percent in Q1 2019

Continuing its rise in the smartphone world, Huawei pushed past Apple to become the second biggest smartphone brand in terms of shipments in the first quarter of 2019, claims the latest research from Counterpoint Research. The research firm says the Chinese telecommunications giant shipped as many as 59.1 million smartphones in Q1, up from 39.3 million shipments during the same period last year. Separately, another Counterpoint Research report reveals that iPhone X was the bestselling smartphone of 2018 and the Apple had as many as six phones in the top ten models, based on market share.

According to the latest Counterpoint Research report, Huawei's global smartphone market share reached 17 percent, an all-time high for the company, during Q1 2019. With shipment volume increase of almost 50 percent, the Chinese company was able to surpass Apple to take the second spot among the top five biggest smartphone brands in the world.

Samsung shipped 72 million smartphones in Q1 2019
Photo Credit: Counterpoint Research

Advertisement

Huawei became the second largest smartphone brand by shipment without a significant presence in an important market like the United States,” said Shobhit Srivastava, Research Analyst, Counterpoint Research, in a statement. “It was also the fastest growing brand among the top 10. At this pace, we expect Huawei to remain ahead of Apple at the end of 2019.”

Advertisement

Samsung still tops the list with 72 million shipments and a 21 percent market share. The South Korean company's shipments, however, declined eight percent and the market share dropped one percent year-over-year.

Apple's Q1 2019 shipments dropped a hefty 20 percent and its market share declined by 2 percent. The report added that the iPhone XR was the bestselling iPhone in the quarter.

Advertisement

Among the top ten smartphone brands, the only brands, other than Huawei, to gain market share and see an increase in shipments were Oppo and Vivo, both of which saw an increase of 10 percent and 20 percent in the shipments respectively. LG saw the biggest percentage drop in shipments with 40 percent decline year-over-year.

The research report also claims that the overall global smartphone shipments declined 5 percent year-over-year and it was the sixth consecutive quarter to see a decline.

Advertisement

In another report, the research firm revealed that Apple's iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7 were the top four smartphones, based on model sales, in 2018. The company's iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR also found a place in top ten – at spot 7 and 8 respectively - despite their launch in late-September 2018.

The other smartphones to find a place in the list were Xiaomi Redmi 5A, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S9+, and Samsung Galaxy J6.

 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OnePlus Freedom Sale Slashes Prices of Phones, Tablets, and More Products
  2. iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air Will Go Sale at These Prices During Amazon's Sale
  3. These Smartphones Will Be Discounted During Flipkart Republic Day Sale
  4. Vivo Y500i With a 7,200mAh Battery, 50-Megapixel Camera Launched
  5. Vivo X200T Confirmed to Launch in India Soon: See Expected Specs
  6. Oppo Reno 15 Series 5G Goes on Sale in India Today: See Price, Offers
  7. These OnePlus, Samsung Phones Will Be on Sale During Amazon's Next Sale
  8. Google's AI Overviews Said to Provide Wrong Medical Advice
  9. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2026: Top Laptop Deals Teased
  1. Oppo Reno 15 Series 5G, Oppo Pad 5, and Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro+ Sale in India Begins Today: Price, Offers
  2. ISRO’s PSLV Suffers Second Failure as Third-Stage Glitch Sends Rocket Off Course
  3. NASA Confirms First Medical Evacuation in ISS’s 25-Year History
  4. Space Forge Tests World’s First Commercial Semiconductor Factory in Space
  5. 83rd Golden Globe Awards Full List of Winners: Hamnet, The Pitt, Adolescence, and More
  6. Kirkkan OTT Release Date: When and Where to Watch This Gripping Crime Investigation Drama Online?
  7. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu OTT Release Date Reportedly Leaked Online
  8. Forza Horizon 5 Is Said to Have Sold Over 5 Million Copies on PS5
  9. Realme Neo 8 Display Details Teased; TENAA Listing Reveals Key Specifications
  10. iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air Discounts Revealed Ahead of Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2026
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.