Recently, Canalys, a globally renowned analysis firm, unveiled the 2024 rankings for global mobile phone sales. Unsurprisingly, Apple led the pack, followed by Samsung, with Xiaomi securing the third spot, Transsion in fourth, and vivo rounding out the top five. Naturally, one might assume that these global rankings would offer some insight into domestic sales trends. However, the 2024 Chinese market sales ranking released by Canalys today presents a starkly different picture, almost a mirror image of the global order.

Vivo, which placed fifth globally, emerged as the top domestic seller, a feat it has achieved for four consecutive years. Huawei, absent from the global list due to specific circumstances, nevertheless secured second place domestically in 2024, a testament to its strong performance. The other manufacturers remained relatively stable, with the exception of Xiaomi, which slipped from fifth place in 2023 to the "others" category in 2024.

While many may find this ranking perplexing, Canalys' reputation in the industry lends it credibility. Upon closer examination, however, the results become less surprising. Huawei's re-entry with the Mate 60 series in August 2023 explains its absence from that year's Canalys list due to timing issues. In 2024, however, the lingering impact of the Mate 60 series, coupled with the release of various new phones across price ranges and the maturity of HarmonyOS, propelled Huawei into the top five domestically.

This surge by Huawei naturally displaced another manufacturer, and unfortunately for Xiaomi, it was the one to fall out of the top ranks. Nonetheless, Xiaomi's domestic shipments may not be as dire as perceived. According to another Canalys report, Xiaomi ranked fourth in China's fourth-quarter shipments in 2024, with 12.2 million units. Extrapolating from this, Xiaomi's annual shipments in 2024, despite being categorized as "others," likely exceeded 40 million units. Furthermore, Xiaomi's global shipments for 2024 are expected to reach 170 million units, as stated by Lu Weibing in late December.

Thus, while Xiaomi has faced challenges in the domestic market, it has thrived internationally. Considering both aspects, Xiaomi's 2024 shipment performance was commendable. Among the manufacturers, Apple stands out as the only one to maintain a consistent top-five position for years. Huawei, on the other hand, is the fastest-growing manufacturer on the latest list, with its future growth rate in 2025 yet to be determined.

Did you foresee the rankings on this list? Share your thoughts!