Huawei’s consumer group posted positive results in its H1 financial results, with impressive growth in its smart phone business according to a new report by Canalys, a technology research and consultancy firm.
The company performed well in China, following up its near 50% annual growth in Q1 with its largest quarterly shipment number to date. Huawei cemented its lead in the Chinese market, shipping just over 19.1 million smart phones, tantalizingly close to China’s record quarterly shipment number of 19.2 million, set by Samsung in Q4 2013. Annual smart phone shipments surged in China in Q2 2016, and with just over a 16% share, Huawei is leading the local players pulling away from international brands Apple and Samsung while Oppo and Vivo reached new heights to take second and third place as both shipped over 15 million units.
The report adds that Oppo’s bets on the premium market and physical retail stores continue to pay off and Vivo continues to concentrate on its core markets in tier-three and four cities. On the other hand, Xiaomi’s shipments were largely flat compared with Q1, but fell around 20% year on year as it struggled to expand its open channels and deliver a blockbuster flagship handset.
Apple held onto fifth place, ahead of Samsung, with around a 9% market share. The iPhone SE has done little to increase overall shipment numbers in China.
