Report claims the Apple iPhone X was the world's best-selling smartphone in 2018 with Xiaomi's Redmi 5A being the best-selling Android device

Some revealing sales charts from Counterpoint Research have shone some light on the companies and specific devices that lead the global and Chinese smartphone markets. While it seems to be common knowledge that Apple has been struggling with recent iPhone releases, the global smartphone market share chart paints a different picture. Not only does Apple have 2018’s best-selling smartphone with the iPhone X, but the Cupertino company also occupies the second (iPhone 8), third (iPhone 8 Plus), and fourth (iPhone 7) places. The iPhone-maker even picks up two more positions further down the chart.

When it comes to Android you would be forgiven for thinking Samsung was the clear leader in terms of specific unit sales. But apparently it was the Xiaomi Redmi 5A that was the world’s best-selling Android smartphone in 2018. The cheap and cheerful handset managed to beat out big-hitters from Samsung’s Galaxy series to take fifth place. According to the market researchers, the Redmi 5A sold 20 million units last year. Meanwhile, Huawei is nowhere to be seen, with the P20 Lite “only” selling 13 million units.

Huawei is absent from the sales market share for China too. Oppo manages to claim the top spot with the R15 and also takes up four other places in the top 10. Apple is the best-selling foreign manufacturer with its iPhone X occupying the runner-up spot. Vivo snags a couple of places and Xiaomi features again. It’s been fairly reasoned that Huawei is missing not because of a lack of success in total sales, but simply because the Chinese OEM has a huge range of smartphones for shoppers to choose from.