Huawei passes Apple to take second spot in global smartphone market

Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, introduces the new Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro phones during the official launch event for the Huawei Mate 10 smartphone series in Shanghai, October 20, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Statistics show Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has jumped past U.S. tech company Apple to take second place in the global smartphone market in last quarter, the first time in history.

Following global leader Samsung, Apple has been the second largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide for years. However, with the growth of Chinese mobile phone makers, maintaining that place has become a close battle.

"Huawei achieved a sales volume of 112 million in the first three quarters," said Yu Chengdong, CEO of the company's Consumer Business Group. "Huawei overtook Apple in the global market and held the largest share in the Chinese market in the latest quarter."

Just after Apple's new iPhone X hit the Chinese market earlier this week, Huawei, its biggest rival in the country, launched its latest model, the Mate 10, in China on October 20.

Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, introduces the new Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro phones during the official launch event for the Huawei Mate 10 smartphone series in Shanghai, October 20, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

These two flagship smartphones have raised the curtain for a new round of competition in AI and might restructure the market shares of the two companies, according to an industry analyst.

As the most advanced smartphone launched by Huawei, the Mate 10 possesses enhanced photo-taking and real-time translation capabilities, which are enabled by its AI chipset.

The Mate 10 is expected to help Huawei win more market share from Apple in China in the future.