Samsung India may have slipped into 3rd place in the smartphone space throughout Q4 2019, according to new data from Counterpoint Research cited by the Korean media. The new report seems to conflicts with another recent market analysis by IDC, which suggested that the company held 2nd place at the end of 2019.
Something that readers may or may not be aware of is the fact that different market research firms use different methods of research. In other words, their analysis will never paint a perfectly-accurate picture, and when two OEMs like Samsung and Vivo are battling very closely for the same spot, market watchers may end up with conflicting reports. Such is the case today. Counterpoint Research reports that Samsung held 19% of the Indian market throughout the October-December period; a similar figure as in IDC's report.
However, according to Counterpoint Research, this was not enough for the company to secure a 2nd place on the podium. Samsung India slipped into 3rd in Q4 and Vivo overtook Samsung to sit between it and Xiaomi.
Whatever the reality of the situation may be, it's quite evident that Samsung is doing battle with Vivo first and foremost, instead of being a real threat to Xiaomi in India. Hopefully, with the release of the new Galaxy M and Galaxy A (2020) lineups, things will pick up for Samsung once again, enough so that it can overtake Vivo this year and narrow the gap between it and the top spot on the podium.
