Strategy Analytics tracks China smartphone market generated 80.1 million units of shipments in Q3 2021, down -4% YoY. Economic uncertainty, component shortage, and lengthened replacement cycle continued to post challenges to the market.

vivo maintained its leadership in China in Q3 2021. It shipped 18 million units of smartphones, up +21% YoY. vivo has arguably the most extensive product portfolio in China, which fuelled the vendor’s growth in domestic market. vivo is now expanding its portfolio further by launching new T series in October eyeing male users in mid-tier segment.

OPPO (including OnePlus) followed with 17 million units of shipments in China, up +15% YoY. OPPO slowed down its launch cycle in Q3 2021, and its integration with OnePlus was deepened especially on ColorOS side.

Honor surged to the third position in China. It shipped 14 million units of smartphones this quarter, up +109% QoQ. Honor is clearly on a strong rebound trajectory. With the improved chipset supply and the strengthened product portfolio, Honor is grabbing shares from other Android vendors.

Xiaomi and Apple slipped to the fourth position and fifth position in China with 11 million and 10 million units of shipments, respectively. Xiaomi’s shipments went down -2% YoY, blaming to the intensified competition in domestic market. Apple’s new models are well-received by Chinese consumers but are suffering from component shortage.  

The top five vendors made up 86% volume share in China smartphone market in Q3 2021, up from 85% a quarter year ago. We expect the ratio will continue to grow with competition further intensified in the following quarters.