Samsung sets objective for 2018 at 320 million smartphone shipments, company to focus on higher profit margins

Samsung's spot at the top of the smartphone market is nigh-unassailable. The South Korean company, as at the end of Q3 2017, had a 22.3% global market share, a large lead over closest rivals Apple who came in second with 12.5% of the market. According to a report by Korean business outlet The Investor, Samsung has set a target of 320 million smartphone shipments in 2018.

The company recorded a similar figure in 2017, as it averaged about 81 million shipments over the first three quarters of the year, going by Statista's data. The unambitious goal for 2018 is said to be as a result of a saturated market, with a rise across the board in the shipment figures of competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi.

The South Korean giants are reported to expect 320 million smartphone shipments, 40 million for feature phones, 20 million for tablets, and 5 million for wearables. The company is also said to be looking to change its focus from higher shipment figures to greater profit margins, especially on its high-end models. The Note 8 may have been the first device to follow that model, as it came with a price tag close to the US$1000 mark. We expect the S9 and S9+ to follow suit when they are released in a few months.