Vivo becomes world's second-fastest growing 5G smartphone vendor

Vivo became the second-fastest growing 5G smartphone vendor globally in Q1 2021, jumping 62 percent quarter-on-quarter to 19 million units shipped, driven by its iQOO U3 5G and U7 5G smartphones, according to a new research from Strategy Analytics on Wednesday.

Vivo's 5G smartphone strongholds are China and Europe, the report said.

Followed by Vivo, OPPO grew 55 percent quarter-on-quarter and Xiaomi 41 percent, both due to solid volumes at home in China.

Ken Hyers, director at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global 5G smartphone shipments grew a healthy 6 percent quarter-on-quarter and hit a record 136 million units during the first quarter of 2021. Demand for 5G smartphones remains very strong, particularly in China, United States, and Western Europe. We forecast global 5G smartphone shipments to reach a record 624 million units for the full-year 2021, soaring from 269 million in full-year 2020."

Ville-Petteri Ukonaho, associate director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Samsung was the world's fastest growing 5G smartphone vendor in Q1 2021. It is performing well in South Korea, North America, and parts of Europe. Meanwhile, Apple dipped 23 percent quarter-on-quarter, following a blowout Q4 2020 where the new 5G iPhone was wildly popular as a gift during the holiday season."