Apple and Samsung are dealing with the global chip shortage in different ways

Those on a tight budget for a new phone are dealing with the worldwide pandemic’s challenges head-on these days. Manufacturers are dealing with anything from longer lead times to a never-ending chip scarcity by prioritizing number one. And, according to recent research, customers will have to deal with this nightmare for another year.

The Global Chip Shortage

According to Canalys research, Apple was the most popular smartphone brand in the fourth quarter, accounting for an estimated 23 percent of the market. Samsung, which topped the rankings for the first nine months of 2021, is now in second place with 17 percent, down from 20% last year at the same period. Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (10%), and Vivo (9%) make out the top five, in the same position as last year. Oppo’s total includes OnePlus shipments.

According to Canalys, Apple won by maintaining delivery times in most regions roughly regular (due to the size of iPhones) and by offering cheaper costs in China. Additionally, OEMs have struggled the most to adapt in the low-end, with chip foundries projected to take “years” to catch up to demand.

Summing Up

We’ve been hearing tidbits about these developments for quite some time now. Insiders at Samsung had been concerned about chip supply for the past year, right up until the announcement of the Exynos 2200 SoC, which can perform everyday functions such as remove contacts with ease. Unisoc CPUs have also been used in a number of devices instead of Qualcomm or MediaTek affordable choices. Furthermore, with the recent announcement of the Dimensity 9000, MediaTek has made a strong foray into the luxury market.

However, for smaller firms, the road ahead remains arduous, as Canalys anticipates that component shortages will not begin to clear until the second part of the year.