Apple takes the lead in 7 out of 10 best-selling smartphones of 2021. Is it the end of the road for Android phones, unable to rival the iPhone?

With an affordable price point yet still effectively meeting the needs of the majority of users, it's no surprise that the iPhone 12 standard model tops the charts.

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Following the release of these figures by Counterpoint, many users were astounded by the complete dominance of the iPhone, leading to discussions on forums asserting that Android is outdated and iPhone sets the standard. Let's delve into these assertions below.

Does the iPhone truly dominate the current smartphone market?

With as many as 7 representatives in the TOP 10, one might wonder if the iPhone has captured the entire market share from other brands. However, it's essential to note that these statistics are based on the number of devices sold by manufacturers or distributors to retailers (known as sell-through) in 2021.

Therefore, these are just figures from a short period and do not represent the actual number of products reaching the hands of end-users (i.e., those who purchase and use the products). Alternatively, you can understand this as the quantity ordered by retailers from distributors rather than the number of devices that have reached users.

There's still a possibility that some devices were not sold in time last year but are still accounted for. Therefore, relying solely on Counterpoint's report to conclude that Apple has dominated the market is not convincing enough.

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Why are there up to 7 representatives of Apple's iPhone on the 2021 bestseller list?

But supply follows demand; if there's no demand, retailers wouldn't need to place such large orders. The appeal of iPhones cannot be denied, especially during each annual product release by Apple. iPhones continue to be sought after due to their distinctive advantages.

Firstly, it's the stability and durability of the device. Looking back, competitors of the iPhone 7 series at the time like the Samsung S7 series, Sony XZ, or LG G5 have lost their appeal and are no longer being sold.

However, simply searching for iPhone 7/7 Plus will reveal that many stores still sell used iPhone 7/7 Plus models. Some stores even offer older generations of iPhones for sale.

This proves that even very old iPhone models still hold value after 6 years or more, something that Android competitors find challenging to achieve. With careful maintenance, you can have a well-functioning phone for a long time.

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Next is the excellent optimization within Apple's ecosystem. If a user buys their first Apple product that isn't an iPhone, such as an iPad or MacBook, there's a high likelihood they'll purchase an iPhone later to replace their old phone. With closed-source software, Apple can easily build an optimized ecosystem, making file exchange, data backup, and synchronization convenient and fast.

Lastly, while the iPhone may not be perfect in every aspect, it strikes a balance in every need. Therefore, it's easy to use and extremely suitable for the basic needs of most users today. Whatever the user's needs, the iPhone meets them well. For those who aren't fully familiar with all the features of smartphones, they'll choose the iPhone for safety.

So, where have the Android brands disappeared to?

Android smartphone brands like OPPO, Vivo, Realme, etc. do not appear to have any representatives in Counterpoint's top-selling phone list. Does this mean these Android brands are truly not of interest to users?

The answer is no. According to Counterpoint's data, from Q1 2020 to Q4 2021, you'll be surprised to see that Android users accounted for between 78% and 89% of the smartphone market share. These statistics clearly show that Android users still outnumber iPhone users.

What keeps Android largely dominant in the market is its customization. There are many aspects of Android that iOS users envy, such as deep customization capabilities, the ability to install software via apk files freely, and a wide range of hardware choices including colors, sizes, and more.

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The reason why so few Android phones make it to the top is because the Android world is too fragmented, with numerous large and small brands. The sheer number of phone models and variants from each brand makes it impossible to list them all.

Therefore, it's understandable that Apple's products dominate sales as they offer only a few product lines. In contrast, Android has a wide range of products in each price segment, resulting in sales being distributed among many different phone models.

According to data from 9to5mac, if we compare the number of iPhones sold to the total products of the 4 brands below, iPhones completely dominate in sales. Therefore, Android smartphones remain very popular and widely trusted by the majority of users.

Furthermore, the market share of premium flagship phones seems to be leaning towards Apple, leaving Android manufacturers somewhat disheartened in this segment. Once users have placed their trust in high-end iPhones, they are unlikely to change their perceptions.

It appears that apart from Samsung's Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Z (foldable screen) series, which are the main competitors to iPhones, no other brand is focusing entirely on producing flagships to compete with these two giants.

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Instead, companies like OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, etc. will focus on researching in the mid-range and budget segments. Competition in these two segments is extremely fierce, making it difficult for any model to achieve a truly breakthrough sales figure to make it into the top rankings.

Conclusion

Looking at the list of top-selling smartphones, it's undeniable how successful Apple has been with its iPhone lineup.

However, Android still holds a certain position with its strengths. Among them, the biggest strength is its ability to provide decent products at very affordable prices. Evidence shows that with just around or less than 3 million VND, you can easily choose to buy a quality Android phone that serves your needs well.

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