According to Canalys’ second quarter 2021 smartphone sales report, global smartphone shipments have increased by 12% and Xiaomi has also seen strong growth in recent times. But what is noteworthy in this ranking is that Xiaomi overtook Apple in the second quarter of 2021. As a result, the company officially became and took the place of the number two global supplier of smartphones. Xiaomi has grown rapidly in international markets and is now trying to enter the high-end segment with smartphones such as the Mi 11 Ultra. The Chinese smartphone maker shipped a 17% share of smartphones, ahead of Apple’s 14% and behind Samsung’s 19%.

A new report from Canalys shows Xiaomi’s market share in the second quarter of 2021. Apple’s iPhone sales have been overtaken by smartphone sales from Korean giant Samsung and Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. Xiaomi is now the second largest supplier of smartphones based on global shipments in the second quarter of 2021, according to the report. The Chinese company has captured 17% of global market share, according to the research firm, just behind Samsung’s 19%, but ahead of Apple’s 14%.

Oppo and Vivo round out the list of the top five suppliers with 10% each. The five companies have all increased their shipments year over year, but what is remarkable is how well Xiaomi has managed to increase its volume – it shipped 83% more phones than in the second. quarter of 2020, when Samsung increased its shipments by 15% and Apple by just 1%.

Xiaomi has made a significant leap and “is rapidly expanding its business overseas,” said Ben Stanton, research director at Canalys. Stanton also cites sales boosts in regions such as Western Europe, Africa and Latin America. “For example, its shipments have increased by over 300% to Latin America, 150% to Africa and 50% to Western Europe.”

Stanton also mentioned how the company could possibly dethrone Samsung from the top spot, suggesting that it might need to increase its price and sell more expensive premium devices, as those devices provide much more profit. “However, it remains largely mass-market oriented, and compared to Samsung and Apple, its average selling price is around 40% and 75% cheaper, respectively. One of Xiaomi’s main priorities this year is therefore to develop sales of its high-end devices, such as the Mi 11 Ultra ”.

The Beijing-based company is now looking to enter the high-end market. Earlier this year, it launched the Mi 11 Ultra, a premium smartphone with a starting price of 5,999 yuan ($ 928). It also launched the Mi Mix Fold at 9,999 yuan ($ 1,544), its first foldable phone. This price range brings Xiaomi into the high-end segment with Korean manufacturer Samsung and now the third-largest smartphone supplier Apple. But its domestic rivals Oppo and Vivo are also trying to break into the high-end market.

According to Canalys, global smartphone shipments increased 12% in the last quarter. Xiaomi took advantage of Huawei’s difficulties. The Chinese tech giant was once the world’s largest smartphone player, overtaking the US iPhone maker in 2019, but US sanctions have cut the Chinese company off essential supplies including software and chips, this which has plunged its sales.

While smartphones still represent the majority of Xiaomi’s revenue, the company is looking to break into new areas. In March, the tech company announced plans to launch an electric vehicle business and invest $ 10 billion over the next ten years. The management of the Chinese company indicated in March that this investment will involve the creation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for placing the Chinese giant in this highly competitive market. The remaining amount will then be spent over the next 10 years, Xiaomi said.

For Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun, the connected electric vehicle market is “the biggest racing circuit of the next decade”. For the latter, it is a “compulsory route to extend the integrated ecosystem of the Internet of Things; it is also the only way for us to realize the vision of the company and to bring a better life to everyone thanks to technology ”.