Skip to main content

Samsung is still king of (smart) TV sales, but Vizio eyes the throne from second place

samsung and vizio ruled tv sales last year 120
Image used with permission by copyright holder

During the last quarter of 2013, Samsung and Vizio were far and away the leaders in market share for smart televisions, as well as for flat panel TVs in general. Samsung’s number-one position isn’t entirely earthshaking, but Irvine, CA-based Vizio has clambered out of the dreaded “tier two” pit and established a steel grip on the TV market — and that alone is impressive.

According to data from Strategy Analytics’ recently released “United States Smart TV Vendor Market Share: Q4 2013,” the majority of smart TV shipments in the U.S. during the 2013 fourth quarter were fulfilled by Samsung and Vizio.

One of the report’s primary insights is the fact that most major TV producers prioritized smart features to stand out in the now-flooded, shoulder-to-shoulder flat panel market.

Here are some more specific highlights from the report:

  • Samsung clearly nabbed the largest chunk of smart TV sales with a 29.6-percent market share.
  • Leaping almost 2 percent from 2012’s fourth quarter, Vizio gave Samsung a run for its money with 24.4-percent market share.
  • Sony’s market share dropped more than 3 percent year-on-year, securing third place with a fairly substantial 17.6 percent (compared with Sony’s meager 8-percent share of the flat panel umbrella category).
  • LG claimed the fourth slot with a 5.1-percent year-on-year increase for a 13-percent share.
  • In the fifth spot is Panasonic with nearly 7 percent of the market share, a 1-percent drop.

Vizio rocked our socks at CES with the unveiling of its beastly Reference Series 120-inch Ultra HD TV — a move that, along with its increasingly robust position in the TV market, could make Vizio a contender for the Samsung-occupied throne. This scuffle should just get scrappier and scrappier as the screens get thinner and wider and high-end TVs become more affordable for the average household.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Alex Tretbar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…
Apple TV with Zoom means it’s finally time to call your mother
Zoom on Apple TV.

Zoom on Apple TV uses your iPhone as a camera (sweet dog blanket not included). Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Zoom is now available on Apple TV, complete with Continuity Camera. That means you can use your iPhone camera as, well, the camera and your TV as the screen on which to see the folks on the other side of the call. And because Zoom is a cross-platform app, it means you don't have anymore excuses for your Android-wielding family.

Read more
Samsung is offering a 100 day trial of some of its best soundbars
Samsung 2022 HW-Q910B soundbar.

If you’re keen to invest in one of the best soundbars around and looking for great soundbar deals, Samsung is the place to go. It offers some great discounts on Dolby Atmos soundbars like the Q-Series 7.1.2 channel Q900C which currently has $410 off, but it also has a killer trial. Right now, you can enjoy any of the Q or S series soundbars for 100 days before committing to a purchase. If you’re not entirely happy, you can return them before then for a full refund. That’s how confident Samsung is that you’ll love its soundbars. Keen to know more? Let’s take a look.

What to buy in the Samsung soundbar range
Samsung makes some of the best soundbars around with its Q-Series being a particular highlight. We’re huge fans of the

Read more
Don’t miss your chance to get this 75-inch 4K TV under $500
The onn. 75” Class 4K UHD (2160P) LED Frameless Roku Smart TV is a living room with orange walls.

Want a huge 75-inch TV without paying a fortune? Walmart has the pick of the TV deals for this situation with an Onn. 75-inch 4K Frameless Roku TV for $498 reduced from $678. The $180 discount makes this an incredibly tempting proposition for anyone who wants a big screen experience without spending a fortune. If you’re keen to know more, keep reading while we take you through things. If you know it’s for you, simply tap the buy button below to get straight to making a purchase.

Why you should buy the Onn. 75-inch 4K Frameless Roku TV
Sure, Onn. doesn’t feature in our look at the best TV brands but it’s still worth your attention and cash. All the essentials are here including the pivotal 75-inch 4K panel. While it might lack extras such as Dolby Vision, you get the basics.

Read more