Huawei enjoys its moment in the sun as it leapfrogs Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone company by units shipped

According to data from market research firm Canalys, Huawei has leapfrogged Samsung to become the world’s top smartphone shipper for Q2 2020. The Chinese OEM managed a total of 55.8 million smartphones shipped compared to Samsung’s figure of 53.7 million units. Both totals are down on the year, by 5% for Huawei and a crippling 30% for the South Korean rival.

Huawei is very successful in its domestic market of China, and 72% of its smartphones sold between April and June of this year were in that country alone. However, the US/Google service ban and security issues with other countries has seen Huawei’s sales plummet for the rest of the world, from 49% of its total sold in Q1 2019 to just 28% for Q2 2020.

Canalys also attributes China’s swift economic and industrial emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic as an additional important factor contributing to Huawei’s current lead in smartphone shipments, as rival companies like Samsung have been hit hard by downturns in key markets such as the US, Europe, and Brazil. It’s likely Huawei’s stint at the top will be a brief one, but it will still be considered a victory for the embattled Shenzhen-based firm.