Android accounts for more than half the smartphone market in China

By Joshua Pramis June 3, 2013

We’ve reported in the past that China is one of the fastest growing markets for smartphones, with demand seemingly multiplying on a daily basis. So naturally, this is one big market that most, if not all, players in the mobile world have their eyes on.

And now, according to a study from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, and later reported by CNET, Google’s Android operating system is crushing the competition in the country, being the platform running on 51.4 percent of all active smartphones by the end of Q1, which is a 2.8 percent growth over its position at the end of the 2012’s fourth quarter.

Samsung devices are proving to be the fastest growing of the Android-run products in that market, accounting for 15.2 percent of all active devices. Craig Yu, the consumer insight director for Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, noted that the company’s Galaxy S4 sold a whopping 10 million units around the world in just a month. But China is a market that largely favors the more affordable smartphones, and Yu predicts that “the launch of Galaxy S4 Mini in the not too distant future will greatly increase its product reach in urban China.”

Trailing behind Android is Nokia’s Sybian, accounting for 23 percent of the market. While still impressive, it’s share is a drop of 2 percent from the previous quarter. This may be a temporary high, predicts Kantar, as Nokia is planning to phase out its older OS, which could cause it to drop down to third place, or even lower.

But for now, iOS is the bronze medalist, with just 19.9 percent of the market share. Perhaps if we finally do see the predicted affordable iPhone Mini introduced to the market, Apple may start to climb even higher. As Yu pointed out, the increase in smartphone use in the area will continue to climb as more affordable options become available.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Spending a childhood engrossed in such technologically inspiring television shows like Voltron, Small Wonder, and Power…

Mobile

How to get new emojis on your iPhone or Android device

Emoji reactions on Google Messages running on OnePlus 11.

Text messaging has quickly become the default form of communication on smartphones. Sure, you can give your buddy a call to update them on your plans for the weekend, but it's not quite as quick and streamlined as a simple text. And combined with the ever-growing library of emojis available on iPhone and Android, it's easier than ever to ensure your tone and true meaning are received loud and clear by your recipient.

Mobile

The 10 best apps for a second phone number in 2024

OnePlus 5 soft gold with the phone app open.

Having a second phone number can be handy for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you want to separate your business and personal calls, or you want a junk second number that you can use to sign up for services so you can avoid giving out your personal number to so many places. That's particularly importance with the frequency of annoying spam calls and messages that can pile up when your phone number is made public. You might also want a second number to use in situations where you want to be able to contact people occasionally but you don't necessarily want them to be able to reach your personal device directly, like when internet dating or using an app like AirBnB. Whatever the reason, there are many situations where having a number that you can give out which you can make use of but isn't directly tied to your personal life like your main phone number is can be important for safety and security.

While you could get a second SIM card (or even an eSIM), an easier option for casual use is to use an app that lets you set up a second phone line. Whether you're after an Android app or an iPhone app, you'll find plenty of options to get a second phone line, including some which are free to use. We've hunted down some of the best options for apps that will give you a second phone number for whatever reason you need it, and we're sharing them with you below.
Vyke

Mobile

How to use ChatGPT on an iPhone and Android phone

Infinix Zero 30 5G Android phone in gold color with ChatGPT virtual assistant.

Seeing ChatGPT respond to some of the most otherworldly prompts is one of the most unique and entertaining experiences. In fact, it’s almost scary how good this OpenAI-founded chatbot can be at times. Launched in 2022, you can access free and paid versions of ChatGPT from a web browser, but the company also has an app for iOS and Android devices.