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Apple Captures Record 91 Percent of Global Smartphone Profits: Research (cnbc.com)

Apple has captured a record share of profits in the global smartphone industry in the third quarter, according to new research, despite grappling with falling iPhone sales. From a report on CNBC:Third-quarter smartphone operating profit reached $9 billion globally of which Apple took 91 percent of the share, Strategy Analytics said in a note on Tuesday. This amounts to $8.19 billion for the U.S. technology giant. Apple has the highest profit margins in the smartphone industry thanks to a loyal brand following and the ability to price its iPhones at a premium. And the figures come even after Apple reported three straight quarters of iPhone sales declines. Sat a long way behind Apple is China's Huawei which managed to grab 2.4 percent of global operating profit share in the smartphone market, accounting for $200 million, according to Strategy Analytics. Chinese start-up brands Vivo and OPPO are in third and fourth place, both capturing 2.2 percent of global smartphone profit each.

6 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah, well look at Apple's INSANE markup. by Noishkel · · Score: 3, Informative

    Digital Trends work worked out a while back that Apple makes about $288 in profit for each iPhone sold. The average Android device... well it varies very widely. But According to 'Pocketnow' it works out to only about $25 of actual profit per device.

    Honestly... Apple is really REALLY screwing it's customer base by selling them last years hardware in every new phone and just pocketing the profits. And for some reason people STILL flock to them.

  2. An important note missing about that 91% figure... by NarcolepticPenguin · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the article: Apple's closest rival Samsung does not feature in the Strategy Analytics report.

  3. Re:Sigh. by vux984 · · Score: 4, Informative

    If 2 companies are splitting the profits taken in a market 50/50 and one does a recall that wipes out their profit for a quarter, then the other company is making the same amount of money... but now has "100%" of the profit.

    This news is just a reflection of Samsung taking a giant loss on the Note7.

  4. Re: Sigh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    Lol. Gouging the shit out of their customers? A business designed to draw maximum profit from the consumer?! Sacre blu!

    Is this your first time? They make good products people want and that's it. If YOU don't want their phone, don't buy it. But for fucks sake, stop with this weird partisan response.

    Lemme guess you're one of those people who always toes their political party's line no matter the bullshit they say or do?

  5. Re:Value for money by chipschap · · Score: 3, Informative

    >The only way Apple or any company makes a big profit is if people like what they are getting for the price.

    What a naive way of thinking. Either that or Apple uses predatory tactics to trap people and trick them into using their products.

    Monopolies or near monopolies can easily be predatory, but that requires very limited consumer choice. I can't see how smartphones fall in that category.

    In my view Apple charges a lot for what they deliver. But I don't have to buy Apple and I don't. Others feel Apple is a value, whether based on quality, functionality, or simply perceived prestige. They buy Apple. That's how the market works.

    I suppose there is some lock-in, in that if you've spent a fair amount on Apple apps, you can't switch and take them to Android, whereas on Android, you can take your apps to a different brand of phone or tablet. But that doesn't seem like a predatory practice on Apple's part.

    Face it: Apple is expensive but many people are willing to pay Apple's prices. Apple makes a lot of money that way. What's the problem?

  6. Re:Sigh. by vux984 · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said in a research report Sunday that Apple captured 75% of smartphone industry profits in the second quarter. But that's down from 84% in Q1 and 91% in Q2 2015, he said.

    Apple's share of smartphone profits fell because of Samsung's improving profitability driven by streamlining its product lines along with strong demand for the Galaxy S7, Walkley said. Samsung's strong results are expected to continue in the third quarter ahead of the September launch of Apple's iPhone 7, he said."

    "Samsung's share of smartphone industry profits improved to 31% in Q2, up from 22% in the first quarter and 19% in Q2 2015."

    http://www.investors.com/news/...

    Apple's profit share of the smartphone market was in steady decline, and Samsung and others were in ascension. The ONLY reason Apple is back up to 90%+ in Q3 is that Samsung's profit share evaporated in Q3 due to the recall expense. It's that simple.

    "Sorry, yes."