Android Captures Record 85% of Global Smartphone Shipments in Q2 2014
Google’s Android operating system has reached a new milestone, accounting for 85% of all smartphones shipped worldwide in Q2 2014 — its highest market share ever recorded. This data comes from a Strategy Analytics report, highlighting Android’s continued dominance in the mobile ecosystem.
Key Market Trends
- Total shipments: 295.2 million smartphones in Q2
- Market growth slowdown: Yearly growth rate nearly halved to 27% (from 49% in Q3 2013)
- Competitive landscape: Apple, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry all lost market share
Regulatory Considerations
Android’s dominance may soon face scrutiny in Europe, where antitrust investigations typically trigger at 80%+ market share. Current figures show:
- 73% of European shipments run Android (Strategy Analytics)
- 74% of European sales are Android devices (Kantar Worldpanel)
Manufacturer Performance
While Android dominates as a platform, device makers show more variation:
- Samsung remains leader but declined to 25% share (from 33% in 2013)
- Apple shipped 35M units but fell to under 12% share
- Xiaomi entered top 6 globally for the first time with 5% share
Market Dynamics
“Global smartphone growth is at its lowest level in five years,” notes Strategy Analytics director Linda Sui. Key regional differences:
- High growth: Africa and Asia (booming emerging markets)
- Mature markets: North America and Europe (slowing sales)
Why Android Wins
Several factors drive Android’s dominance:
- Cost advantage: Free licensing enables low-cost devices
- App ecosystem: Extensive Google services integration
- Market flexibility: Wide range of device options
Competitive Outlook
Research director Neil Mawston describes the landscape as “effectively a one-horse race.” Potential challengers:
- Apple’s phablet expansion (larger screen iPhones)
- Mozilla’s Firefox OS (low-cost alternative)
However, with Windows Phone shrinking to 3% share and BlackBerry fading, Android’s position appears unassailable in the near term.
Image credit: Flickr
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