The global smartphone camera sensor market reached $15 billion in 2020, an increase of 13% compared to 2019. This data is contained in a report by experts from the analytical company Strategy Analytics.
Analysts named the largest supplier of camera sensors for smartphones. At the end of the year, it continues to be Sony, which holds 46% of the market in monetary terms. Then we have Samsung System LSI and OmniVision Technologies. So, in total, the top three companies occupy almost 85% of the market. The diagram below gives an idea of the distribution of the market:
The pandemic has hardly held back the growth of the camera sensor market, as CIS suppliers have seen strong demand from smartphone makers aggressively adopting high-resolution sensors and higher sensor counts across smartphone tiers in 2020. Samsung, OmniVision and SK Hynix continued to participate from Sony; as the supplier lost key business due to sanctions against Huawei. We expect Sony's market dominance to be increasingly threatened by growing competition in the smartphone camera sensor market.
Strategic analytics: Xiaomi will become the third largest global smartphone vendor in 2021
According to recent research by Strategy Analytics; global smartphone shipments will recover +6,5% YoY to reach 1,38 billion units in 2021. Growth is mainly driven by improved economic conditions as the COVID-19 pandemic eases; the growing stock of outdated smartphones and operator/provider push to move to 5G.
Abhilash Kumar, smartphone analyst at Strategy Analytics, said: “In 2021, we believe Xiaomi will become the world's third largest smartphone vendor, surpassing Huawei. In addition, Xiaomi is successful in the markets of India and Russia, and has also been very aggressive in Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe.”
Commenting on the regional outlook for Chinese vendors, Linda Sui, Senior Director of Strategy Analytics: “2021 will be the year of Chinese smartphone vendors. In addition, in the Asia-Pacific region in vivo, Xiaomi and OPPO will become the top three players driven by aggressive marketing; expanding channel footprints and competitive pricing.”
The report also notes that in Africa and the Middle East, Transsion will overtake Samsung as the largest supplier, with Samsung relegating to second place. In addition, Xiaomi will move up to third place ahead of Apple. In addition, in the Western European markets, Xiaomi will consolidate its position in third place after Apple and Samsung.
