Counterpoint Research has just released its first top-10 list of the best-selling smartphones in 2021. It shows that Apple dominates these rankings with no less than 6 different iPhones. They include every variant of the 12 series, although some were better placed than others. Samsung and Xiaomi secured the remaining slots.
Counterpoint Research has announced its first 2021 smartphone rankings by sales for 2021. They apply to January of this month, and show that the iPhone 12 has topped this list, with 6% of sales worldwide. It is followed by its Pro Max and Pro siblings with 5% and 4% of the same respectively.
This top 3 is accompanied by yet another iPhone – the 11 this time – in the top 5 with 2%. However, there is some space for Android devices in the top half of the list: the Xiaomi Redmi 9A has also snared about 2% of all sales in January 2021 to make it to #5.
Those wondering what happened to the iPhone 12’s inaugural Mini variant need not fret: it is also ranked, albeit at #8 with about 1% of sales. Finally, the 10th position went to the SE 2020. Meanwhile, Samsung scored places in these rankings with the Galaxy A21s (and not for the first time either) and A31 at #7 and #9 respectively.
This means there were only 3 OEMs in this top 10. Xiaomi and Samsung owed their final placements to increased efforts to break into the African and Middle Eastern markets, according to Counterpoint. Otherwise, the popularity of the Redmi 9A and 9 (in sixth place) may indicate a shift towards cheaper phones early on in 2021 – particularly as the 2 devices contributed an entire quarter of their maker’s January revenue.
