Over one billion smartphones were shipped in 2013, a 38 per cent increase from 2012, according to International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
Total sales reached 1.004 billion last year, a 200 per cent increase when compared to 2011.
“The sheer volume and strong growth attest to the smartphone’s continued popularity in 2013,” said Ramon Llamas, research manager at IDC’s Mobile Phone team.
“Total smartphone shipments reached 494.4 million units worldwide in 2011, and doubling that volume in just two years demonstrates strong end-user demand and vendor strategies to highlight smartphones.”
Smartphones accounted for 55 per cent of all phones shipped during the year, up from 41.7 per cent of all mobile phone shipments in 2012.
“Among the top trends driving smartphone growth are large screen devices and low cost,” said Ryan Reith, programme director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
“Of the two, I have to say that low cost is the key difference maker. Cheap devices are not the attractive segment that normally grabs headlines, but IDC data shows this is the portion of the market that is driving volume. Markets like China and India are quickly moving toward a point where sub-US$150 smartphones are the majority of shipments, bringing a solid computing experience to the hands of many,” he said.
Samsung has a clear lead in the number of smartphones sold. The Galaxy S3, S4, and Note models received sustained demand during the year. Despite this the company reported a decline in sales in the final quarter of the year.
Apple reported record sales in the fourth quarter caused by the release of the iPhone 5s and 5c. The company expects even more interest now that it has managed to infiltrate China, a move the company hopes will see it overtake Samsung in sales.
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