LG reports that it has sold more than 10 million LTE smartphones worldwide. LG is aiming to double that figure by the end of 2013.
Apple and Samsung are currently the clear leaders in LTE smartphones. Samsung is estimated to have shipped a record 215.8 million units in 2012, up 129 percent on its 2011 figure, while IDC estimates Apple’s total for 2012 was 136.8 million units. Apple’s iPhone 5 overtook Samsung’s Galaxy S3 to become the world’s best-selling smartphone model in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Galaxy IV, due March 14, will likely turn the tables (for a time).
LG is battling with Nokia, Huawei, ZTE, HTC, Sony and BlackBerry for the runners up. IDC recently ranked Sony in fourth place for the last quarter, claiming 4.5 percent of the mobile market, ahead of ZTE, but behind Huawei. Gartner ranked LG fifth on sales of all handsets, while IDC’s top 5 for smartphones sales didn’t include LG.
According to Strategic Analytics, global shipments of LTE smartphones are expected to increase to 275 million units in 2013. Global smartphone shipments (with and without LTE), are expected to jump 27 percent to 875 million this year.
Strategy Analytics estimates that Samsung will have a 33 percent share of the 2013 smartphone market, up from last year’s estimated 31 percent, while Apple will hold 21 percent, versus last year’s 20 percent.
