Apple, which introduced the $ 349 HomePod smart speaker in 2018, has decided not to pursue that line. The manufacturer announced that it will stop producing this model and will not have a direct successor.
The release of software updates and technical support will continue, as will the sale of devices from the store’s stock. However, there will be no new deliveries.
Instead, Apple will focus on developing a line started with the $ 99 HomePod mini, launched last fall. It is better suited to compete with similar products from Google and Amazon.
In other words, the fate of the Apple HomePod is similar to the fate of the Google Home Max, which can still be purchased, but only from old stock, and Google has no plans to release a new model in this category.
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.
