Samsung now holds just 7.9 per cent of China’s smartphone market share, marking a 49.9 per cent decrease in just one year.
The former lead held 18.8 per cent of the market back in Q4 2013, but has since fallen from top spot to fifth in share rankings, as revealed by new IDC data (via PhoneArena).
Rival firm Xiaomi now holds prime position in the eastern nation with 13.7 per cent. That’s up from 6.5 per cent, marking a year-over-year change of 150 per cent.
Placing second is Apple, which now holds 12.3 per cent, up from the previous year’s 7.4 per cent.
What’s interesting about Apple is that in Q3 2014, its share was a mere 5 per cent.
That share rose drastically in the next quarter however, as a result of its highly successful iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch.
Third spot goes to Huawei with 11 per cent share of the country’s market, up from 10.2 per cent.
Fourth is Lenovo, which saw a share decline of 14.3 per cent over a year. That’s bad news for the Chinese tech firm, as it once held second place behind Samsung.
The company now holds 9.5 per cent of the market, having fallen from its previous high of 13.2 per cent a year earlier.
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There are a multitude of reasons why Samsung has struggled to maintain a strong position in recent times.
Xiaomi was its main challenger, nabbing swathes of Samsung customers with low- and mid-tier handsets.
Apple’s massive China launch also meant that Samsung flagship devices hit a roadblock, struggling to out-market the newly sized-up iPhone pair.
Adding the fact that Huawei managed to improve its market share over the last 12 months, and it’s no surprise Samsung fell behind.