While Apple failed to launch even a single 5G smartphone last year, Samsung launched various models with 5G connectivity across mid-range and high-end segments. The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G turned out to be the best-selling 5G smartphone in the US last year. As per the latest data, Samsung managed to grab a 74 percent share of the 5G smartphone market in the region.
According to market analysis firm Counterpoint Research, less than two million 5G smartphones were sold in the US in 2019. That's less than 1 percent of the overall smartphone sales in the country. LG sold 15 percent of all 5G phones in the US last year, while OnePlus' market share stood at 11 percent. Samsung was the only brand to launch more than one 5G smartphone in the US in 2019.
Counterpoint Research's director Jeff Fieldhack rightly points out the reasons for lower-than-expected 5G smartphone sales. He notes that high prices of 5G phones along with spotty 5G coverage, a limited number of compatible devices, and compatibility issues led to the below-par sales performance of 5G-equipped smartphones in the US.
The market analysis firm expects the 5G smartphone market share to grow from 1 percent to 25 percent of all smartphones sold in the US this year. Most of the growth is expected to come from Apple and Samsung.
The South Korean smartphone giant has already launched three 5G phones—Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra—in the US this year. We expect the company to launch at least three more 5G phones by the end of this year: Galaxy Fold 2, Galaxy Note 20, and Galaxy Note 20+.
