Samsung lost a third of its market share in China in 2014, Apple and Xiaomi to blame

posted by Peter K. / Jan 19, 2015, 4:09 AM

Samsung lost a third of its market share in China in 2014, Apple and Xiaomi to blame

2014 was certainly not the best year for Samsung, especially on the vast Chinese market. A number of local manufacturers are causing some grave troubles to Samsung – Xiaomi, Apple, as well as a slew of other local brands are aiming at Samsung's still-respectable market positions in China.

A new data report from CCID Consulting, China's biggest research and consulting company, points out that Samsung has lost 31.5% of its market share on the Chinese market in 2014. Back in January 2014, Samsung had the king share of the pie with 20% of the market, but in October 2014, it only accounted for 13.7% of the smartphone market. It's still reportedly on the top, but if this decline continues into 2015, it will probably plummet further down the ladder.

Some 356.2 million smartphones have been sold in China in January 2014, while in October this figure fell to 307 million in October 2014, which means that the local market has also slowed down a bit. The runner-ups to Samsung's still-prevalent positions are Huawei, Lenovo, Coolpad, Xiaomi, Meizu, as well as the fiercest rival, Apple, which stepped more firmly on Chinese soil last year.

Xiaomi, in particular, last week unveiled a duo of new phablets, the Xiaomi Mi Note and the Mi Note Pro, with the latter being a respectable specs powerhouse.

An unnamed industry analyst revealed that one of the reasons for Samsung's downfall in China is its failure to adapt to the ever-changing status quo on the dynamic Chinese market in 2014.

source: Caixin via Marketwatch

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103 Comments

1. BobbyBuster

Posts: 854; Member since: Jan 13, 2015

Serves them right.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:10 AM 8

4. dTone

Posts: 69; Member since: Jan 09, 2015

Yeh, because,,,,,,,

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:19 AM 6

6. BobbyBuster

Posts: 854; Member since: Jan 13, 2015

Because TW & co suck. Using the same crappy Android OS as those dog-cheap Chinese ones, the only way for Sammy to distinguish their phones is to offer top notch launcher and bundles. And Sammy failed.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:28 AM 5

8. dTone

Posts: 69; Member since: Jan 09, 2015

They do distinguish themselves, TW. Dog-cheap? You sound very immature. Good luck trolling buddy, have fun.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:43 AM 9

16. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Well, aside from that random stab in the dark, TW still remains one of the worst UI experiences on Android. Even Samsung admitted that and have claimed to be starting from 0 on that as well as the hardware for the S6. Regardless, this isn't the iOS ecosytem, here we don't care about how much profits a company makes. It is what they give as value to consumers that matters. With the S6, Samsung seems to be making some pretty good moves, and hopefully that will differentiate them in a better way than before.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 5:24 AM 1

33. jdoee100

Posts: 334; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Is that why samsung phones get #1 consumer satisfaction scores from two different surveys. This TW hate is childish. Besides I thought Xiaomi was supposed to be #1 in China.?? I guess so called samsung demise is false like everything else on this site. Samsung is still #1 in China and in the world.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 9:08 AM 0

38. WakaFlakaD

Posts: 576; Member since: Apr 30, 2011

I think they scored based on the number of survey they got. Sure Samsung is a quality brand without a doubt, but the smartphone game is changing rapidly fast, and Samsung is definitely losing the edge in terms of market share. $700 for a flagship should not be seen anymore. It is no longer Samsung completely dominates the Android world

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 10:24 AM 0

78. jdoee100

Posts: 334; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

No, the surveys were based on consumer satisfaction ratings, not on the number of surveys.(one by consumer report and another one by I believe U of Michigan). "It is no longer Samsung completely dominates the Android world," it certainly seems that way by numerous reports on this site and others. However, Samsung's domination has become stronger outside of China. Samsung's major android rivals(more like former major rivals), Sony, HTC, Moto, Nokia are on its last legs, if at all. In case of Nokia, they no longer even make smartphones anymore. For most of the world, Android is samsung. In China, samsung's marketshare is definitely down, but they're still #1(yeah, that's right #1). And, the Chinese smartphone companies who are taking marketshare away from samsung are doing it by selling their phones with very little profit or none at all. Chinese companies may gain marketshare and eventually one may even take #1 place away from samsung, but with little or no profit, they won't be able to compete for long.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 3:41 PM 0

80. Tracy1988

Posts: 208; Member since: Dec 18, 2014

You don't know a damn thing about Chinese companies but you're talking like you know for sure. No profit? They're not retarded like you are. Won't be able to compete for long? Are you trying to be annoying or you just have a brain of a pig? I can't tell you anything that you aren't able to understand. Just keep your eyes open and see who will fall.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 5:02 PM 1

83. jdoee100

Posts: 334; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Retarded? brain of a pig? Can you be any more childish?! I am not going to argue with a child.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 6:38 PM 1

90. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Speak for yourself, Finalflash. I enjoyed the TW interface very much especially the Android 5.0 on my Note 3. Hater gonna hate.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 10:59 PM 0

79. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Too many trolls on this planet. Apple stock isn't doing to well either.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:07 PM 1

17. tedkord

Posts: 17365; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

The put out the top rated phablet on the market, the Note 4.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 5:28 AM 0

48. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Dude you have no idea what you are talking about. Not even remotely. Samsung phones were chosen as top seller do to the fact TouchWiz brings a nice set of features to Samsung phones tht no other Android devices have. Thus Samsung beat the original Android leaders like HTC very easily. The reason China has stepped up is simple. They are offering phones with equal or better specs at a lower price point. Apple gained ground simply because iPhone's in Asian countries are consider a luxury device and you are considered some top dog if you own one. Especially since 90% of Asian countries cant even afford expensive phones. TW doesn't suck. In fact here on this site a vite was done with all the UI's next to each other an TouchWiz came in 2nd place. If you don't like TW then don't like it. But to think it is that is a reason they had a drop in sales is stupid. You don't own a multi-billion dollar business, so stop pretending you know how to run one. YOU DON'T. In fact you sound like a complete idiot.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 11:37 AM 0

67. darkkjedii

Posts: 31103; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Apple gained ground, cuz they make a kickass lineup of products. Case closed.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 1:15 PM 2

71. Gp_Customs

Posts: 269; Member since: Jan 14, 2015

ironic how apple targets hipsters, thus making everyone get one. However, that would in turn make them mainstream, this creating one hell of a paradox.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 1:50 PM 1

72. Gp_Customs

Posts: 269; Member since: Jan 14, 2015

I can’t for the life of me figure out any reason why one would pick these metallic, over priced pieces of sh!t, unless they’re that computer illiterate or just HAVE to have the thing everyone else has.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 1:53 PM 1

73. Gp_Customs

Posts: 269; Member since: Jan 14, 2015

Apple Incorporetarded is an evil cult banned in several countries including Botswana and Andorra, famed for the antisemetic views of its followers who are known to pontificate on the great iMiracles regularly excreted by its former Great Leader, Steve Jobs. The Great Leader is the 15th incarnation of a long line of dictators who have dared to think differently. In commonality with Buddhist thought, Apple, Steve Jobs, and his workers, are to be considered One, with shared consciousness and utter dedication to the Whole, from which new products emerge.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 2:00 PM 1

77. darkkjedii

Posts: 31103; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Man STFU!!!

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 3:26 PM 3

81. Tracy1988

Posts: 208; Member since: Dec 18, 2014

Omg! Do they let people in mental wards online nowadays?

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 5:08 PM 0

89. Gp_Customs

Posts: 269; Member since: Jan 14, 2015

They use intimidation or psycho manipulation to keep Apple fans loyal to their ranks. This could be in the form of marketing of dire calamity sent by Steve Jobs if they leave; being shunned by their family and friends etc. This is a vital part of the mind control process.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 9:05 PM 2

92. AlikMalix unregistered

" This is a vital part of the mind control process." Hey Gp_Custard, I guess they didn't get you - bet you glad u were wearin that tinfoil hat otherwise you'd end up buying an iPhone like the rest of us, huh.

posted on Jan 20, 2015, 1:17 AM 0

91. androtaku

Posts: 246; Member since: Dec 12, 2013

i guess thats just the regular android fanboy talking

posted on Jan 20, 2015, 12:26 AM 1

103. BigBernard

Posts: 2; Member since: Jun 14, 2014

You really are a clown.

posted on Jan 20, 2015, 6:52 PM 0

2. Cyagocaliz unregistered

Well done Apple!

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:10 AM 7

9. Kruze

Posts: 1285; Member since: Dec 30, 2014

Did Tim Cook give you another 5 cents bonus as well? That would be 15 cents salary for you today. Keep up the troll work!

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:43 AM 8

12. halca

Posts: 14; Member since: Jan 01, 2015

Funny how being a satisfied Apple customer instantly equals trolling.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 4:51 AM 14

23. Kruze

Posts: 1285; Member since: Dec 30, 2014

Funny how you don't know he's a paid shill, funny.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 6:24 AM 2

31. darkkjedii

Posts: 31103; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

I wonder the same thing.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 8:44 AM 1

49. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

It trolling when it is. This isn't an Apple article, so yeah he's trolling. Oh and Samsung has a high customer satisfaction rate and more sold phones too.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 11:38 AM 0

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