Details on what to expect from Apple‘s big March announcement have surfaced online. It is not yet clear when exactly it will happen, but according to rumors, there will be three new products on it. However, at least one device is almost confirmed to be launched at this event.
We are talking about AirTags. Details about them and images have appeared back in September. The official announcement of AirTag was expected first in September, and then in October and November, but Apple decided to postpone the release. As a result, we are waiting for them now in March.
The next-generation iPad Pro should have a 12.9-inch mini LED screen, as well as an SoC from the iPhone 12 – Apple A14 with support for 5G. In terms of design, nothing radically new is expected. As for AirPods, we are waiting for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3, but it is not a fact that both of these models will be released at the same time, so in March, Apple may be limited to only some headphones.
It should be noted that this data is confirmed by two insiders: Jon Prosser and LeaksApplePro. In the past, they have provided reliable data more than once, but they were also wrong. So this list of Apple’s new products in March cannot be considered completely reliable.
Apple finally defeated Samsung in the global smartphone market
Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s leading smartphone brand amid record sales of iPhone smartphones. The company showed a huge jump in the last quarter of last year, while Huawei‘s position weakened greatly.
According to Counterpoint Research, shipments of iPhone smartphones increased 22% in the previous quarter. The surge is driven by the release of the iPhone 12 lineup, which supports fifth-generation networks. Also, sales of previous models did not fall, the demand for which is stable after the price decline.
The company has shipped 90 million smartphones and has more than 23% market share. Analysts note that Apple has strengthened its position in the premium segment of smartphones in China. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, two of the top three selling premium smartphones in China are from Apple.
The second place in the quarter belongs to Samsung, which received about 19% of the market. The third place went to Xiaomi, followed by Oppo and Vivo, which took the fourth and fifth places, respectively. Huawei dropped to 6th place.
If we consider the results for the year, then Samsung is in the lead, Apple is second, Huawei is third, followed by Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme. The latter was the fastest growing brand in the past year.
Counterpoint Research’s data is broadly consistent with estimates by another analyst firm, IDC, which we have already published.