Samsung's Domestic Market Share Surpasses 70% in Q3... Apple and LG Remain in Single Digits

Samsung Electronics Achieves 72.3% Domestic Smartphone Market Share in Q3
First Breakthrough into 70% Range Including Galaxy Note20 and Foldables
LG Electronics at 9.6%, Apple at Single-Digit 8.6%

On the 23rd, when social distancing level 2 was expanded nationwide, citizens flocked to the Galaxy Note20 experience center set up in a large shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics' domestic smartphone market share in the third quarter surpassed 70%. Apple and LG Electronics' market shares remained in the single digits.

According to market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) on the 17th, Samsung Electronics' domestic smartphone market share in the third quarter recorded 72.3%. This is the first time Samsung's share, which was in the 60% range, has exceeded 70%. Compared to the same period last year (67.9%), it increased by 4.4 percentage points.

Samsung Electronics' third-quarter market share increased significantly as it consecutively launched the Galaxy Note20 series, the foldable lineup including the Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and the Galaxy S20 FE. Samsung's domestic smartphone shipments in the third quarter reached 3.4 million units. The global shipment volume disclosed during Samsung's third-quarter earnings announcement last month was 88 million units.

Competitors Apple and LG Electronics both saw their market shares fall to single digits. Apple's share decreased by 0.9 percentage points year-on-year to 8.9%, while LG Electronics' share dropped by 2.1 percentage points to 9.6%.

Industry insiders generally estimate Apple's domestic market share at around 15%, but it appears to have declined further due to Samsung's aggressive push in the third quarter. The iPhone launch was delayed by about a month this year, causing a significant lag in third-quarter results, but a rebound is expected in the fourth quarter.