Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG), the global smartphone giant, overtook Apple in the second quarter of 2018 to become number two smartphone vendor globally for the first time.

According to International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide, Huawei earned 15.8 per cent market ahead of Apple at 12.1 per cent.

The entry of Huawei in the second position marks a turning point for the smartphone industry as it delivered shipments of 54.2 million units with a record high market share of 15.8 per cent. Huawei has recorded41 per cent year-on-year growth leaping ahead of the other two brands globally during the same period last year.

Huawei has also grabbed the second spot ahead of Apple in the Middle East and Africa. According to the GFK May 2018 report Huawei CBG market share in the Middle East and Africa was 21 per cent, an increase of 31.25 per cent when compared with the brand’s market share in December 2017.

Huawei’s market share across countries in the MEA region exceeds 20 per cent, including Levant at 37.4 per cent, Oman at 30 per cent, Saudi Arabia at 27 per cent, Iraq at 25 per cent, Egypt at 24 per cent, Pakistan at 22.2 per cent and the UAE at 20 per cent.

Huawei is the 6th biggest spender in R&D globally, with $45 billion spent over the last 10 years and a whopping $12 billion last year only.

The company’s efforts have clearly paid off as its latest products have received several accolades globally. Huawei leads Artificial Intelligence (AI) chipsets in smartphone industry and had launched the world’s first processor with built-in AI chipset- Kirin 970 in its smartphones. Its breakthrough flagship phone HUAWEI P20 Pro introduced an unprecedented 40-megapixel AI triple camera with stunning night shot photography features. Huawei P20 Pro received strong demand in the premium phone segment as P20 Series exceeded 6 million phones shipped worldwide; just a few months after its launch.

Its recently launched nova 3 series is also a testament of Huawei’s strength in the premium mid-range market. HUAWEI nova 3 and HUAWEI nova 3i feature a revolutionary 24MP + 2MP dual AI front camera that is designed to provide a new AI Selfie experience, by distinguishing people from backgrounds and apply AI beautification for optimum results. – TradeArabia News Service