Choose a phone: the rating of smartphone manufacturers

High technology and related industry can not stand the day of business passivity, brutally dealing with any stagnation. It is worth one company to delay at least a week - and all the grandiose ideas with incarnations immediately appear in the competition, and yesterday's know-how turn into an outdated rudiment.

One of the most striking examples of such a process can be traced in the reports of the international agency for analytics Gartner, which published the rating of smartphone manufacturers (in the world) for 2013-2014. And if the report in 2013 shows that the first place went to the company "Samsung", then next year with a large margin leading Apple. The Korean corporation managed to retain only 19.8% of the market in the year before last.

Let's try to understand the reasons for such rapid changes in the mobile gadget market, and also make a rating of smartphone manufacturers for the first half of 2016.

Fluctuation of the smartphone market

Last year, the situation on the market of smartphones and tablets markedly deteriorated not in the best for the leaders side. The share of major manufacturers is noticeably declining month after month, and the positions of competitors continue to strengthen, changing the rating of smartphone manufacturers literally before our eyes.

Moreover, small corporations quite confidently supplant the venerable leaders from the occupied places, and the consumer, standing in front of the storefront, increasingly casts a glance at Chinese brands with similar technical characteristics and markedly reduced percentages of marriage.

By and large, all mobile gadgets are just the same, and all the critical differences can be attributed only to the accessories and stuffing. In addition, if we look at the rating of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, we will see that the products of these brands often change in terms of style and ergonomics, while Western firms try to preserve the individuality and unique face of each line and series. For the consumer this point is also important, but preferences and opinions on this matter (new or familiar old) are divided approximately equally.

Trends

Before to voice the rating of manufacturers of smart phones, it is not superfluous to disassemble the basic trends in the industry of mobile gadgets for the last year. The main point that added all brands without exception to their models is metal. Even the "Samsung", which for years did not touch this direction, and he joined the race "for metal" with his flagship "Galaxy S6" and A-series.

In second place is the trend of duplicating flagships, that is, the release of the main and a more compact version of the gadget. Well, the obvious, as well as the direction taken by the users, is the general simplification of the operating system interfaces. The developers are trying to facilitate the platform, which is abundantly overloaded with all sorts of elements over the years of progress. The latest models quickly get rid of piles in the operating system and slowly return to the forgotten simplicity and ease of management.

So who are they - the best manufacturers of smartphones? The rating for the beginning of 2016 is as follows:

1. Samsung.
2. Apple.
3. Microsoft Mobile.
4. Lenovo.
5. LG.
6. Huawei.
7. Xiaomi.
8. ZTE.
9. Sonya.
10. Micromax.

We will analyze each participant in more detail. The list of the best companies was compiled from the calculation of sold gadgets for 2015.

Micromax - 37.098 million units

The Indian corporation "Micromax" closes the rating of smartphone manufacturers. Over the past few months, the brand has weakened its position and gave way to a venerable competitor.

Nevertheless, the sales results of the Indian industry leader are very impressive, especially given that the manufacturer is focused on the release of models for the budget sector. Maybe this will deprive the brand of enviable profits, but the lack of round sums is compensated by the loyalty of consumers, who in the future will certainly look to the expensive flagships of the company.

"Sony" - 37.791 million units

In the overall rating of smartphone manufacturers, a well-known brand could not get into it. The reason why the company was on the last lines of the list is pretty simple. Among all the flagships represented by Sony, only the third generation managed to perfectly balance in all respects. This was the model Xperia Z3 and a smaller but stylish substitute Z3 "Compact".

Over the past months, the brand has lost a lot of fans of the classic "Sony Style", and for the company came the wrong times in the mobile direction. More often in the media, rumors of the impending closure of this line of gadgets.

But, nevertheless, if we look at the rating of reliability of smartphone manufacturers, then we will see that the company "Sony", which for a year confidently holds the leading position. So sales sales, and for the quality of the brand responds fully.

ZTE - 53.910 million units

In the rating of smartphone manufacturers, this company came through a dense and fruitful cooperation with mobile operators. Remember, it's ZTE that supplies smartphones and telephones to our mobile companies (MTS, Megafon and Beeline). Also, the brand is the main partner-manufacturer for OEM-company "Fly", Explay and Keneksy.

By and large, ZTE is one of the biggest players in the mobile gadget market, and only at first glance it seems like a dark horse. And if you look at the rating of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, you can see that the company is confidently holding if not in the first places, then in the top five for sure.

Xiaomi - 56.529 million units

This comparatively young revolutionary could prove to the whole world that even the most powerful corporations would be helpless in the face of faith, truth and colossal patience with titanic persistence.

The president of the company "Xiaomi" and its founder believe that people should have high-tech devices at reasonable prices. This attitude helped the brand to sell more than 50 million gadgets per year.

It is also superfluous to note that "Xiaomi" recently is the undisputed leader in the segment of mobile devices from Asian companies (the rating of Chinese smartphone manufacturers is a direct confirmation of that). In addition, the corporation earns colossal amounts on its smartly built services and other technology products. More recently, the brand presented to the public an original and advanced in many ways an action camera, and it cost four times cheaper than a similar GoPro in the most modest configuration, and that says a lot.

Huawei - 70.499 million units

For the domestic consumer, the Huawei brand can easily get lost in the crowd of other Asian companies. But if you look more closely, you can see that Huawei is one of the recognized leaders in the global mobile gadget industry. In addition to smartphones, tablets and other technological devices, the corporation designs 5G networks and closely cooperates with many key cellular communication operators in terms of communication equipment.

It is also worth noting that the company is included in the rating of smartphone manufacturers in terms of quality and occupies far from the last place. Apparently, therefore, the bulk of production is aimed at cooperation with cellular operators and various OEM brands.

LG - 76.096 million units

The incredible success of the LG G3 model and the subsequent release of more lightweight versions of this smartphone have allowed the brand to significantly strengthen its position in the market of mobile gadgets and technological devices in general.

For a couple of years, the company has not just grown up, stepping up the step of the beginner's time of Optimus One, but also represents the current state of the industry as a technology leader. The past year almost doubled the percentage of the brand's presence on the market, leaving not only the newcomers, but also the "Sonya" maternity.

Also, it is not superfluous to note that the corporation seriously engaged in the production of components for mobile gadgets, entering the rating of manufacturers of protective glass for smartphones, and breaking into the top three immediately.

Lenovo - 84.029 million units

After the Lenovo brand acquired from Google all rights to Motorola, as well as a significant part of the production capacity, the doors to the markets of North America were opened, if not widely, then widely.

As a result of the transaction and after some time it became obvious that the corporation had firmly consolidated its positions on a global scale and literally jumped the nearest competitors. The company continues to expand its influence in the segment of mobile gadgets, and at the same time promoting the cult brand "Motorola" in Europe and Asia.

Microsoft Mobile - 185.66 million units

If Lenovo bought out the rights to Motorola, Microsoft could even absorb such a monster as the Finnish Nokia, and, as they say, with all the guts. As a result, mobile gadgets poured into the market, behind which there is an ambitious and powerful leader of the software industry. This state of affairs has allowed the giant Microsoft to get an excellent basis for creating and promoting mobile devices under the new "Windows 10".

Possessing such an enviable portfolio and almost limitless possibilities, the company was able to firmly gain a foothold in the third place in the ranking of smartphone manufacturers.

Apple - 191.426 million units

Just a year ago, the "apple" corporation made a very daring action, almost trampling down all the basic principles of Steve Jobs. It's about cumbersome trendy models with screens of 4.7 and 5.5 inches. In addition to an enviable contract with the Chinese and a number of Asian countries, gadgets have won a stunning success all over the world.

The company can be called a phenomenon - an absolute record, a staggering revenue and capitalization of the brand in excess of $ 600 billion. Such indicators could not be achieved by any manufacturer in the world. Apple simply shoots the industry with heavy artillery, and few can do anything about it. And the secret of such stunning success of iPads and iPhones is simple as never before: devices cost under a thousand American dollars, and there are simply no other ways to enjoy gorgeous iOS 8, except for buying a gadget.

Samsung - 392.546 million units

The Korean giant was able to realize last year almost 400 million smartphones, leading the rating of manufacturers of mobile gadgets, and with a solid separation from other big brands.

Of course, it's expensive to produce devices on such a scale, but in the back of "Samsung" breathes more than a serious competitor with its own, albeit not cheap, but highly demanded technology. The company from series to series improves its mobile gadgets. The latest novelty "Galaxy S6" and A-ruler in the all-metal case can easily compete with "apples".

Summarizing

Leaders in the segment of mobile devices change surprisingly quickly and unexpectedly. Just a year ago, we thought that Chinese gadgets - it's vague consumer goods from second-rate brands. But today's realities say quite the opposite, because a significant proportion of modern technology is produced just under the companies of the Middle Kingdom.

Yesterday and nameless producers confidently and quickly select a market place from venerable corporations, releasing their own high-tech gadgets at budget prices. Now it is difficult to embarrass or insult a person by pointing out to him an unfamiliar logo on the case of the device. Yes, to have an iPhone or flagship from Samsung is fashionable, but not so practical in terms of price and return.

If you want to buy an inexpensive mobile device without looking at the solidity and brand, then it's better to look at the Chinese manufacturers. You need something secondary - Sony, LG and Samsung to help you. In the range of these brands you can always find some inexpensive and noteworthy model for you. Well, if you want to emphasize your status as an expensive and at the same time quality gadget, then welcome to Apple.