According to Strategy Analytics 2013 global mobile phone shipments reach 1.7 billion units with 5% growth-- the strongest performance from the industry in at least 2 years.
Smartphones account for 990 million of the overall amount, but 2013 shipment growth is slightly down (from 43% in 2012 to 41% in 2013) due to high penetration in major markets such as the US.
As one might expect Samsung leads both overall and smartphone markets, with marketshare reaching 27% and 32% respectively. The analyst predicts the Korean giant might ship 500m (or half-billion) mobile phones in 2014, cementing further its position as industry titan.
Former leader Nokia retains second place, even as shipments slide by 25% to 252.4m units due to not-good-enough Windows Phone performance and sluggish feature phone demand.
Apple is third in the overall rankings with shipments reaching 153.4m units. However Strategy Analytics points out iPhone growth is down from 46% in 2012 to "just" 13% in 2013 due to lack of presence in the low-end and big-screen smartphone categories.
In 4th and 5th place are LG and, in a Top 5 first, China's TCl-Alcatel.
When it comes to smartphones, Samsung and Apple dominate with combined 47% marketshare. "Large marketing budgets, extensive distribution channels and attractive product portfolios have enabled Samsung and Apple to maintain their grip on the smartphone industry," the analyst says. "However, there is clearly now more competition coming from the second-tier smartphone brands."
Such brands include Huawei, LG and Lenovo, whose combined global marketshare reaches 14% through successes in Europe, Latin America and China.
"Samsung and Apple will need to fight hard to hold off these and other hungry challengers during 2014," Strategy Analytics concludes.
Go Strategy Analytics: Global Mobile Phone Shipments Reach 1.7bn Units in 2013
Go Strategy Analytics: Global Smartphone Shipments Reach Record 990m Units in 2013
