Huawei Finally Beats Samsung – What Happened?
Back in April 2020, the anyone with a smartphone scrolling through their Instagram stories noticed a headline that shook the industry: Huawei had slipped past Samsung to become the world’s biggest phone maker. And yeah, it’s not just a trick of the numbers. Here’s the low‑down.
How Did Huawei Pull It Off?
- Home‑grown loyalty: With the flagged‑up U.S.–China trade friction, many Chinese folks feel a patriotic itch. They’re more willing to pick a brand that is “in‑country” rather than an overseas giant.
- Samsung’s sales hiccup: COVID-19 hit regions like India, the U.S., Latin America, and parts of Europe hard. Samsung’s market share took a nosedive there, giving Huawei a golden window to grab 19% of the global pie—versus Samsung’s 17%.
In a nutshell: Huawei’s 19% cache of the market share lasted for a “short period”. It’s the first time Samsung felt the crunch.
What’s New from the Rival Players?
Huawei’s Latest Powerhouses
- P40 & P40 Pro: Now available in Singapore. The 5‑lens P40 Pro+ is slated to hit shelves worldwide by June.
- Nova 7 SE: Added 5G readiness and just launched in Singapore this week.
Samsung’s Freshest Drops
- Galaxy Z Flip: Released in “mirror gold” this May and a trendy Thom Browne edition in June.
- Galaxy S20 series: Got new colour options, and the S20+ BTS Edition debuted last Monday (June 15).
Believe it or not, these releases made a big splash in the market, but Huawei’s strategic timing—and patriotic fans—kept the momentum going.
Bottom Line
While Samsung heads back to the drawing board with its latest releases, Huawei’s bold moves during a turbulent time helped it cross the line as the global leader in smartphone sales—at least for that brief slice of history. Talk about a plot twist!
