Xiaomi Overtakes Apple to Become World’s Second-Largest Mobile Phone Seller

Xiaomi became the world’s second-best-selling mobile brand in August this year, according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research. The Beijing-based company managed to overtake Apple for the first time since August 2021, thanks to a 22% year-on-year sales growth.

Xiaomi reportedly outperformed the market in August, offsetting seasonal sales declines in its key markets with growth driven by promotions in Latin America. Following supply issues in 2022, Xiaomi, like the rest of the smartphone industry, faces a challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical environment in 2023. However, after a weak 2022, Xiaomi successfully pivoted its sales strategy, resulting in significant sales growth over the past year.

While Xiaomi’s rise to second place in August was largely due to its aggressive growth in recent quarters, Apple’s seasonal sales decline also played a role. Since the new generation of iPhones is usually released in September, August is typically Apple’s weakest month of the year. However, the launch of the iPhone 16 will likely allow the company to regain its position in the coming months.

The Chinese company already has a plan to try to continue growing, and it includes the launch of two new flagships with adjusted prices, which will appear at the end of September, called Xiaomi 14T and Xiaomi 14T Pro. In addition, everything indicates that they will be accompanied by an international version of the Xiaomi MIX Flip, the company’s first flip phone.