• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Apple narrowly beat Samsung in Q4 as 2014 smartphone sales surpassed 1 billion mark

Apple narrowly beat Samsung in Q4 as 2014 smartphone sales surpassed 1 billion mark

March 4, 2015
Bitchat

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025
YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
GTA VI

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

July 10, 2025
Former X CEO, Linda Yaccarino

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

July 9, 2025
Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

July 9, 2025
Official document handover by Bernard Mwonyonyo and Habib Lukaya from Roam.

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

July 9, 2025
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Apple narrowly beat Samsung in Q4 as 2014 smartphone sales surpassed 1 billion mark

Emmanuel Chenze by Emmanuel Chenze
March 4, 2015
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
256
0
Strong iPhone 6 sales helped Apple surge past Samsung in Q4

Strong iPhone 6 sales helped Apple surge past Samsung in Q4

Apple managed to sell 74.83 million iPhones in the fourth quarter of 2014 against a close 73.03 million by rival Samsung to sit at the very top as having sold the highest number of smartphones in that period according to data from respected research firm Gartner. Over a similar period in 2013, roles were reversed and it was Samsung at the top with Apple a distant second at 83.3 million smartphones against 50.2 million iPhones. Samsung’s sales figures for the quarter dropped by close to 12% while Apple’s went up by 49%! Yes, there were very many people holding out on buying any smartphone in Q3 as they waited for Apple’s latest iPhone to go on sale the following quarter.

What changed? The iPhone 6 happened. With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple moved to woo its fanbase that wanted bigger smartphones. That had been the biggest selling point for Samsung and other Android OEMs and Apple finally offering something to compete with their large smartphone offerings dealt a big blow to their short-lived dominance. That and Samsung presenting a weaker competitor to the iPhone in the Galaxy S5 earlier in the year. The launch of the Galaxy Note 4 which started showing up in the market at the start of Q4 could not help the Korean giant ward off the challenge by Cupertino and forced the company to rethink its smartphone designs. Now Samsung’s new devices are clad in metal and directly compete with Apple’s iPhones at all levels. Form and function.

Strong iPhone 6 sales helped Apple surge past Samsung in Q4
Strong iPhone 6 sales helped Apple surge past Samsung in Q4 2014

With Apple dominating the upper end of the smartphone market segment, it was not rosy at the mid-range and entry-level as Chinese OEMs Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei put up a good show and ate into the sales of Samsung’s budget Galaxy devices in key Asian markets like China. Samsung has even had to launch a Tizen-based low cost smartphone in several Asian markets like India and Bangladesh so as to be able to effectively compete at that level while still turning in a profit. The indication so far is that the Samsung Z1 is doing well but can it stand the onslaught of Xiaomi’s well-specced but fairly-priced Mi phones? OnePlus is setting shop in India while Lenovo, ZTE and other homegrown companies keep pushing hard on their continental turf. Huawei already has its eyes set on the US market this year and if things go its way, the big two will face a serious challenge in their key North American market.

A total of 367.5 million smartphones were sold in Q4 and the big two, Apple and Samsung, account for 40% of all smartphones sold in that period adding to the combined 1.2 billion smartphones sold last year. Samsung generally leads as the smartphone vendor that sold most devices in the whole year (307 million) even though the slip up in Q4 led to Apple having its best Q4 sales figures ever. Android’s domination of the smartphone market continued with over 1 billion of the 1.2 billion (80.7%) smartphones sold last year running on the Google-backed mobile platform. iOS came in at a distant second selling 191 million units (15.4%). Microsoft’s Windows and Blackberry continued their weak run of form by accounting for just 2.8% and 0.6% of all smartphones sold last year respectively.

 

Gartner

Tags: AppleGartnerSamsung
SendShare146Tweet92
Emmanuel Chenze

Emmanuel Chenze

Emmanuel writes on mobile hardware, software and platforms.

Related Posts

galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

July 9, 2025
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
ios 26-facetime

iOS 26 May Pause Video if You Start Undressing on FaceTime

July 3, 2025
apple iphone foldable

Apple Begins Testing Its First Foldable iPhone

July 3, 2025
All-Screen-iPhone-2027-Apple

Apple Reportedly Working on an All-Screen iPhone

June 24, 2025

Latest

Bitchat

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025
YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.