Samsung Electronics Co, the world’s largest smartphone maker, is losing its dominance in Taiwan’s large-screen smartphone market after rivals launched more handsets with screens larger than 5.5 inches, data research firm International Data Corp (IDC) reported.
The South Korea electronics giant garnered more than 80 percent of large-screen smartphone shipments in Taiwan in 2013 with its Galaxy Note series, but its share plunged to 33 percent last year amid mounting competition from Apple Inc and smaller players, IDC said in a recent report.
Taiwan-based HTC Corp (宏達電), in second place, held a 19 percent share of the local large-screen smartphone market last year, while Apple was third with 17 percent, the report said.
PHABLETS
Phablets — smartphones and voice call-enabled tablets between 5.5 and 7 inches in size — accounted for just 12 percent of Taiwan’s overall smartphone shipments in 2013, but the figure jumped to 31 percent last year, due partly to the popularity of the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the second half of last year, IDC said.
IDC estimated that the market share of phablets in Taiwan will grow further to 36 percent this year, as smartphones move to bigger screens, while devices under 5 inches will decrease from 36 percent overall last year to 27 percent this year.
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