Xiaomi has continued its upward trajectory in the global smartphone market, surpassing Apple to become the second-largest smartphone vendor worldwide in terms of sell-through volume for August, according to the latest figures from market research firm Counterpoint. Apple fell to third place while Samsung held on to the top position. This achievement by Xiaomi is attributed to aggressive growth in recent quarters and increasing demand in key markets such as India.
According to Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone 360 Monthly Tracker, this marks the first time in three years that Xiaomi has overtaken Apple in monthly sell-through volumes. Samsung continues to lead the global smartphone market. The report highlights that Xiaomi’s success is largely driven by strong performance in lower price segments, with the launch of the Redmi 13 and Redmi Note 13 series 5G smartphones priced under $200 (approximately Rs. 16,000) playing a significant role in gaining market share across key regions including India, Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Although Xiaomi’s shipments in August remained flat, the report attributes its success to a seasonal decline in Apple’s shipments ahead of the iPhone 16 series launch. The upcoming iPhone 16 lineup is expected to boost Apple’s sales, potentially allowing it to regain its position in the coming months.
Counterpoint also notes that Xiaomi posted a robust 22 percent year-over-year growth in sales volume in the first half of 2024. While growth is expected to moderate in the second half of the year due to base effects, Xiaomi is still on track to achieve strong double-digit growth for the entire year.
