Smartphone OS Market Trends: A Comprehensive Analysis
The latest quarterly report from Counterpoint Research sheds light on the ongoing dynamics of the smartphone operating system landscape. The analysis reveals that Android continues to hold a strong lead on a global scale, with iOS trailing closely behind and HarmonyOS positioned as a noteworthy participant in third place.
Regional Insights: China’s Market Shift
Counterpoint’s research highlighted intriguing variations in different markets. Notably, in China, HarmonyOS has outpaced iOS, marking a significant shift that is anticipated to persist through 2025.
Stagnant Sales Impacting Rankings
The reported figures for both quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) and year-over-year (YoY) show minimal changes, attributed largely to stagnant smartphone sales throughout 2024. Within this period, Android recorded its lowest-ever market share during Q4 2024 in key regions such as the United States and India.
In the U.S., while brands like Motorola and Google experienced promising sales figures, smaller manufacturers reported notable double-digit declines compared to last year. In contrast, Apple’s iPhone saw only a marginal decrease of 1% in sales.
IPhone Sales Surge in India
India witnessed an unprecedented peak in iPhone sales during Q4 of 2024. Interestingly, older models accounted for approximately two-thirds of all transactions during this period.
The Trajectory of HarmonyOS
Currently holding steady at a 4% share globally, HarmonyOS ranks third among operating systems; however, it surpassed Apple’s performance across all quarters within China throughout 2024. Analysts from Counterpoint anticipate continued growth for HarmonyOS due to government initiatives aimed at subsidizing local brand smartphone sales to bolster domestic production capabilities.
The Role of EMUI
The study left some ambiguity regarding whether EMUI—the international version of Huawei’s user interface—is classified similarly to its Chinese counterpart. Regardless of this distinction, it’s clear that Huawei primarily drives its smartphone success within its home territory.
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