Market research agency Omdia reported a substantial increase in shipments of 5G smartphones equipped with MediaTek processors, achieving a 53% annual growth rate in the first quarter of 2024. Shipments rose from 34.7 million units in Q1 2023 to 53 million units in Q1 2024. In contrast, shipments of 5G smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 47.2 million to 48.3 million units over the same period.
MediaTek’s market share in the 5G smartphone sector surged from 22.8% in Q1 2023 to 29.2% in Q1 2024, positioning it as the market leader. Qualcomm, previously holding the top spot, saw its market share decline from 31.2% to 26.5%, ranking second. Apple secured third place, followed by Samsung Exynos, Google, Huawei Kirin, and Unisoc, which collectively hold a 17% market share.
Omdia attributed MediaTek’s rise to its dominance in the sub-$250 5G smartphone market, which saw a significant 62% increase in shipments—from 38.7 million units in Q1 2023 to 62.8 million units in Q1 2024. This segment’s growth has been particularly advantageous for MediaTek. Meanwhile, Apple continues to lead the high-end smartphone market.
The report also noted a strategic shift among processor manufacturers from 4G to 5G over the past three years. Unisoc, taking advantage of this transition, has expanded its market share in the 4G processor segment as competitors focused on 5G technology. Despite this shift, MediaTek maintains a strong presence in the 4G market, accounting for over 50% of shipments in Q1 2024, while Samsung’s share in this segment has dwindled to just 1%.
This shift in the competitive landscape highlights MediaTek’s strategic positioning in the growing affordable 5G smartphone market and its balanced approach in maintaining 4G processor production.
