Top 21 Samsung Competitors & Alternatives in 2024

The top Samsung Competitors are Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Lenovo, Sony and others. There is no doubt that Samsung is the leader where Smartphones are concerned. The launch of Google Android has been a blessing for Samsung. Samsung has truly taken advantage of the Google Android operating system and has some beautiful handsets which have taken the world by storm.

Some of the widest selling Smartphone series belongs to Samsung. These are the Samsung Note series, the Samsung Galaxy series as well as the Galaxy Edge series. Samsung and Apple were the two companies which dethroned the dominator of the mobile market – Nokia. Although Nokia has made a comeback, it has come back at a time when Samsung is the king of the Smartphone world. Will Nokia be able to do the same thing to Samsung? I doubt it.

As of August 2023 Samsung has a market cap of $330.48 Billion. This makes Samsung the world’s 24th most valuable company by market cap. The Company posted KRW 60.01 trillion in consolidated revenue with an Operating profit of KRW 0.67 trillion.

Nonetheless, here are the top Samsung competitors, some big and some small.

Top Samsung Competitors

1) Apple

• Product Type: Consumer electronics
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1976.
• Founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
• Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Tim Cook.
• Revenue: $81.8B (Q3, 2023)
• Market cap: $2933.76B (August 30, 2023)
• Number of employees: 164,000 (2022)

Apple’s Iphone is without doubt the number 1 Samsung competitor when we talk about high end smartphones. Almost every year, there are 3 smartphones sure to be launched. One would be an Iphone, another a Samsung Note and the third Samsung galaxy or Samsung galaxy edge. Iphone was one of the first phones to come out in the market with multi touch features.

 Apple has reported a total revenue of $81.8bn in the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year(FY) 2023. Sales in the America dropped to $35.3bn in Q3 FY23. The company’s operating income was recorded as $22.99bn.

However, although Iphone is loved by many, Samsung utilised Google Android to launched several features of its own, including some awesome hardware. The Apple vs Samsung (Android) debate is endless. Apple Iphone has the lions share of Smartphones in US and it is second highest market share holder worldwide and is one of the strongest Samsung competitors in the business.

2) Huawei

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1987.
• Founders: Ren Zhengfei.
• Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Ren Zhengfei.
• Revenue: 642.3 billion yuan (2022)

Huawei has repeatedly impressed consumers with its design as well as functionality of its phones. Obviously Huawei operates with strong penetrative pricing, which is common for all Samsung competitors other then Apple’s Iphone and Google’s Pixel (which operate on Skimming price strategy). There are ripe speculations that Huawei is becoming a strong global contender to Samsung and Apple both.

Huawei is firmly positioned among the top three phone makers in the world and remains the market leader in China.

Huawei reported net profit for 2022 totaled 35.6 billion yuan ($5.18 billion), a 69% year-on-year decline. That’s the biggest annual decline since 2011. Huawei’s consumer business, which houses its smartphone unit, fell more than 11% to 214.5 billion yuan in 2022. It has 207,000 employees and operates in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. As of 2023, Huawei is the leading 5G equipment manufacturer and has the greatest market share of 5G equipment and has built approximately 70% of worldwide 5G base stations.

3) Xiaomi

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2010.
• Founders: Lei Jun, Lin Bin, Zhang Zhiyong, Zhou Guangping, and Liu De.
• Headquarters: Beijing, China.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Lei Jun.
• Revenue: CNY 59.48 billion (Q1 2023)
• Market cap:$38.34 Billion (August 2023)
• Number of employees: 16,458

 Xiaomi is a privately owned company operating from China. The best advantage to Xiaomi is the Asian population which it can cover easily, mainly India and China, two of the most populated countries in the world. Because of its massive distribution and production capacity, Xiaomi is the third highest Samsung competitors in the world.

In August 2022, Xiaomi made the Fortune Global 500 list for the fourth time, ranking 266th, up 72 places compared to 2021. Currently, Xiaomi’s products are available in over 100 countries and regions around the world. According to the quarterly report, Xiaomi’s overseas revenue in Q1 2023 was CNY 27 billion.

4) Oppo

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2004.
• Founders: Tony Chen, Zhengfei Zhang, Bin Lin, and Pete Lau.
• Headquarters: Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Pete Lau.

Oppo came quite late in the picture, but took away the market share which was going to Micromax. Oppo left Micromax far behind with its well designed smartphones which were value for money. In fact, most distributors which were purely Micromax players are seen more and more to side with Oppo. Oppo is also known very well for its well executed branding strategies at point of purchase. Oppo is the fourth highest Samsung competitor in the world.

OPPO is a Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong. Its major product lines include smartphones, smart devices, audio devices, power banks, and other electronic products. The brand name “Oppo” was registered in China in 2001 and launched in 2004. Since then, the company has expanded to 60 countries.

OPPO has significantly increased the production and sales of their smartphone lineup over the past five years, shipping 25.4 million units in the second quarter of 2023. In 2022, Oppo shipped nearly 106 million smartphone units across the globe.  In second third quarter of 2023, OPPO had a global market share of 9.6 percent.

5) Vivo

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2009.
• Founders: Shen Wei, Duan Yongping, Bing Xin, and Ni Fei.
• Headquarters: Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Shen Wei.
• Market share: 16%
• Revenue: R$ 48 billion (2022)

Another Chinese company with the same advantages as Oppo, but which lacks the marketing skills of Oppo is Vivo. Vivo started its business in 2009 and because of its Manufacturing capacity and the wide market at its disposal, capture a good chunk of the market share very fast. Within 3-4 years, Vivo had established itself in 100 countries like China, India, Malaysia and others. It closely follows the footsteps of Oppo in product design.

Vivo is a technology company that has expanded its global market, serving over 400 million users with its mobile products and services, to over 60 countries and regions . It has 10,000 employees, with 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo, and San Diego

6) Lenovo

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Information technology.
• Founded: 1984.
• Founders: Liu Chuanzhi, Qi Li, and Su Zhaoyi.
• Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Yang Yuanqing.
• Revenue: $62B (FY 22-2023)
• Market cap: $13.32B (August 31, 2023)
• Number of employees: 77,000 (2023)

Lenovo is a competitor to Samsung in Smartphones as well as in Laptops. While in laptops, Lenovo is far ahead of Samsung, in Smartphones, Lenovo is far behind. Lenovo phones are loved for their simple design but one key feature separates Lenovo from the rest – Battery life. Lenovo phones are regularly known to have a high battery life above 3500 mah in smartphones.

Lenovo has a global presence and is listed on the Fortune 500 list, with around 77,000 employees worldwide as of 2022. Lenovo Group announced full-year results, reporting group revenue of US$62 billion and net income of US$1.6 billion with record operating profit of US$98 million.

7) Sony

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Electronics, media, and entertainment.
• Founded: 1946.
• Founders: Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita.
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Kenichiro Yoshida.
• Revenue: $4.957B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap:$102B (August 18, 2023)
• Number of employees: 113,000 (2023)

The Sony Xperia series was a breath of fresh air for the brand after the phasing out of Sony Ericsson – the tie up between Sony and Ericsson to make and distribute smartphones. Sony Xperia took the market by storm when it launched smartphones which were water resistant and could stay safe even if dropped in the pool. Smartphone industry being what it is, others soon copied the example and there were multiple brands marketing their waterproof mobile. Yet, Sony had a first mover advantage and it got the attention of many consumers. Till date, Sony Xperia series and other Sony smartphones are loved by consumers.

Sony net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $1.588B. Sony operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-14.652B. Sony gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $-6.901B.

8) HTC

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1997.
• Founders: Cher Wang, Peter Chou, and H. T. Cho.
• Headquarters: Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Cher Wang.

The HTC Design and the HTC M series are strong Samsung competitors and the M series is a premium smartphone which has many features of the galaxy series but at lesser prices. At the same time, the advantage HTC has is its very good in branding and packaging and it comes in the competitive price segment. Instead of pricing to penetrate the market, HTC prices its products between the likes of Oppo and the likes of Samsung, therefore having the best of both segments.

9) Motorola

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry:  Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1928.
• Founders: Paul V. Galvin and Joseph Galvin.
• Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Sergio Buitoni.
• Revenue:$2.403B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap: $47.29B (August 31, 2023)
• Number of employees: 20,000 (2022)

The MOTO G series of Motorola is one of the most popular series of Motorola Smartphones. Motorola phones look very smart and have unique designs, which is a differentiator for Motorola in this tough Smartphone market.

Motorola Solutions net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.371B.  Motorola Solutions operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.518B. Motorola Solutions gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $1.189B.

10) Microsoft

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry:  Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1975.
• Founders: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
• Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Satya Nadella.
• Revenue: $56.189B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap: $2351.37B (August 18, 2023)
• Number of employees:  221,000 (2023)

People would expect Microsoft to be a major player wherever it steps in. However, it is definitely not so in the Smartphone market and Microsoft is far behind amongst Samsung competitors. The reason Microsoft does not have wider acceptance in the market is its operating system. People either want Android or they want IOS. However, no one is running behind windows 10 on a Smartphone, which looks like a PC software repackaged as a mobile software. But we can never expect Microsoft to sell phones with software made by Google or Apple. So it is unlikely Microsoft will climb up the ladder as a Samsung competitor.

Microsoft is a top tech company with a 21% market share worldwide. Microsoft net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $20.081B. Microsoft gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $39.394B.

Honorable mentions

11) Google’s Pixel

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2016.
• Founders: Google.
• Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Sundar Pichai.

Pixel could have seen a higher market share if only it was regularly available in the market!! Google has again underestimated demand, fizzing out the excitement of purchasing a google phone.

The smartphone industry is dominated by the likes of Blackberry, Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft. Google, however, has brought in its range of smartphones known as Pixel. These phones have proven to be strong competitors to Apples iPhone and other renowned brands. Pixel was specifically launched to challen the market dominance of the Apple Iphone and to bring a premium phone with an Android OS.

Google products are quite popular among computer and smartphone users and the company today has decided to venture into the smartphones market. Pixel smartphones are fierce contenders among the top Apple Competitors. The phones run on Android operating systems and feature exclusive software. What’s worse is pixels design similarities to that of Apples iPhone which makes the competition between the two even more fierce.

12) Micromax

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2000.
• Founders: Vikas Jain, Rahul Sharma, Mohit Agarwal, and Neeraj Jain.
• Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India.
• Area Served: India and other Asian countries.
• Current CEO: Rahul Sharma.

Micromax Informatics is an Indian multinational manufacturer of consumer electronics and home appliances, headquartered in Gurugram. It was established in March 2000 as an IT software company operating in the embedded System. It entered the mobile Phone business in 2008 and, by 2010, became one of the largest companies making low-cost feature phones in India. Micromax products have become an embodiment of innovation and delivering “nothing short of the best”.

The company has three factories in Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Rudrapur (Uttarakhand), and Telangana, with a capacity of about 30 lakh a month for mobile phones. The company’s focus on low pricing has made it a popular choice among Indian consumers.

13) Asus

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Information technology.
• Founded: 1989.
• Founders: T.H. Tung, Ted Hsu, Wayne Hsieh, and M.Y. Lee.
• Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: S.Y. Hsu.
• Revenue: $16.67 B (2023)
• Market cap: $8.99 Billion (August 2023)
• Number of employees:  17,000

ASUS group, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan since 1989, provides customers with PC components and peripherals, notebooks, tablets, servers, and smartphones. Asus employs approximately 11,000 people across the world. Asus is the world’s 5th-largest PC vendor by unit sales as of January 2023.

The company’s strong belief in innovation has seen it grow its brand from a humble motherboard manufacturing company to now a global player in the IT market. Asus is a lower end competitor to Apple and one of the reasons Apple needs to keep an Eye on Asus is because of its small netbooks. Macbook Air is one of the most loved Apple laptops because of small size and weight and battery capacity. Asus has several models which fall close and hence it is considered as one of the Apple Competitors.

ASUS has won numerous awards and recognitions, including being recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies and Interbrand’s ranking as Taiwan’s most valuable international brand. In the second quarter of 2023, PC shipments from Asus amounted to 3.9 million units worldwide.

14) Gionee

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2002.
• Founders: Liu Lirong.
• Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Liu Lirong.

Gionee is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that was founded in 2002. The company produces a range of smartphones that are known for their sleek design and affordable prices. Gionee has a strong presence in India and other Asian markets, and has been expanding its reach in recent years. The company has also been investing in research and development, with a focus on developing new technologies and features for its smartphones. Overall, Gionee is a growing player in the smartphone market, offering consumers a range of affordable and stylish devices.

15) Intex

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1996.
• Founders: Narendra Bansal.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Area Served: India and other Asian countries.
• Current CEO: Narendra Bansal

Intex Technologies is an Indian multinational electronics manufacturing services company that manufactures smartphones, consumer electronics, and other accessories. It was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New Delhi, India. The company was established by Narendra Bansal and is currently led by his son, Keshav Bansal. In addition to smartphones, Intex also provides consumer electronic products such as MP3 players, DVD players, headphones, home theater systems, and speakers. In 2012, Intex Technologies expanded its consumer durables portfolio with the entry into the LED TVs business.

Intex Technologies has established itself as a leader and innovator in the integral skin urethane process, supplying products to various industries. Intex is a one-stop-shop for all things technology, from smartwatches, keyboards, TWS, neckbands, BT speakers, LED TVs, cables, power banks, to products like.

16) Iball

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 2001.
• Founders: Sandeep Parasrampuria.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, India.
• Area Served: India.
• Current CEO: Sandeep Parasrampuria.

iBall is an Indian electronics retailer headquartered in Mumbai. It was founded on September 24, 2001, and imports computer peripherals, smartphones, and tablets from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

iBall is known for its innovation prowess and sets a new paradigm with the launch of superior products with high-end technologies for consumers. In September 2022, iBall launched the iBall Slide PenBook 2-in-1, which has a 10.1-inch, full multi-touch HD display and IPS technology, and sports a 5MP auto-focus rear camera and 2MP front camera.

17) Nokia

 

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Telecommunications.
• Founded: 1865.
• Founders: Fredrik Idestam, Leo Mechelin, and Gustav af Strömberg.
• Headquarters: Espoo, Finland.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Pekka Lundmark.
• Revenue: $6.226B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap: $22.42B (August 30, 2023)
• Number of employees: 86,900 (2022)

Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation that was established in 1865. Nokia’s involvement in the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) began in 1988 when a new company, Nokia Mobile Phone, surfaced from the amalgamated Nokia Mobira Oy. In 1992, Nokia Mobile Phone launched its first GSM phone, Nokia 1011.

For a decade beginning in 1998, Nokia was the largest worldwide vendor of mobile phones and smartphones. However, in the later 2000s, Nokia suffered from a series of poor management decisions, and soon saw its share of the mobile phone market drop sharply. In 2014, Nokia’s mobile phone business was sold to Microsoft.

Today, Nokia Technologies is a division of Nokia that develops consumer products and licenses technology including the Nokia brand. Its focuses are imaging, sensing, wireless connectivity, power management and materials, and other areas such as the IP licensing program.

Nokia has come back and this time with Android OS. A reason for everyone to rejoice!!

Nokia net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.316B. Nokia gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $2.377B. Nokia operating income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.518B

Samsung competitors in Consumer durable segment

Not only does Samsung exist in Smartphones, it exists in Consumer durable as well. Here are the 4 strong Samsung competitors in consumer durables.

18) LG

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1958.
• Founders: Koo In-hwoi.
• Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Yong-In Cho.
• Revenue:  66.8 billion U.S. dollars (2022)
• Number of employees: 75,000+ (2022)
• Market cap: $12.61 B (August 2023)

LG has a solid presence with regards to its Television, washing machine, refrigerator and other kitchen appliances. While Samsung has lesser products in the kitchen and home appliance segment, LG has a massive product portfolio. Hence, it is a strong Samsung competitor where consumer durables is concerned.

In 2022, LG Electronics reported a net income figure of about 1.49 billion U.S. dollars.

19) Philips

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Healthcare, lighting, and Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1891.
• Founders: Gerard Philips and Frederik Philips.
• Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Frans van Houten.
• Revenue: $4.874B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap: $20.99B (August 31, 2023)
• Number of employees: 77,233 (2022)

Philips has a fantastic personal care and grooming line of products, which fall under consumer appliances. On the other hand, Philips sound systems, its televisions as well as kitchen and home appliances make it a strong Samsung competitor.

Philips net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.079B. Philips gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $2.139B.

20) Whirlpool

• Product Type:  Consumer electronics.
• Industry:  Consumer electronics.
• Founded: 1911.
• Founders: Louis Upton, Frederick Upton, and Emory Upton.
• Headquarters: Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Marc Bitzer.
• Revenue: $4.792B (June 30, 2023)
• Market cap: $7.6B (August 31, 2023)
• Number of employees: 61,000 (2022)

Whirlpool is known as the leader of washing machine market and has a strong brand recall globally for washing machines. Whirlpool first started with washing machines and then moved on to many other consumer durable products. Whirlpool also has a large line up of refrigerators. In terms of consumer durables, Whirlpool is a strong competitor for Samsung.

Whirlpool net income for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.085B. Whirlpool gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 was $0.816B.  Whirlpool operates in over 100 countries globally, with manufacturing facilities in over 60 countries.

21) Panasonic

• Product Type: Consumer electronics.
• Industry: Electrical and electronics.
• Founded: 1918.
• Founder: Konosuke Matsushita.
• Headquarters: Kadoma, Osaka, Japan.
• Area Served: Worldwide.
• Current CEO: Yukihiro Tsukamoto.
• Revenue: $62.004B (2023)
• Market cap:$26.45B (August 31, 2023)
• Number of employees: 233,391 (2023)

Panasonic has a strong hold on multiple products like Air conditioners, Television as well as refrigerators. Like other consumer durable brands, Panasonic produces a wide range of products, including televisions, home appliances, cameras, and audio equipment and other white and brown goods. The company is also involved in the automotive industry, producing batteries for electric vehicles.

Panasonic annual net income for 2023 was $1.965B. Panasonic annual gross profit for 2023 was $16.735B. Panasonic annual operating income for 2023 was $2.135B.

You can also check out top consumer durable brands in the world.

Overall, above were the top Samsung competitors in the Smartphone market as well as competitors of Samsung in the consumer durable market.

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