MediaTek's market share in 5G smartphones rose to 29.2% in 1Q24, up from 22.8% in 1Q23, while Qualcomm Snapdragon's share decreased from 31.2% to 26.5% over the same period. Figure 1 illustrates MediaTek leading followed by Apple and Snapdragon.
MediaTek's expansion over Snapdragon in the 5G smartphone market is largely attributed to the increasing availability of phones priced under $250 equipped with 5G chipsets - a segment dominated by MediaTek. According to figure 2, shipments of 5G smartphones below $250 surged by 62%, from 38.7 million in 1Q23 to 62.8 million in 1Q24. This has particularly favored MediaTek, as it is the preferred choice in this price range for 5G phones, while Snapdragon leads in mid-range 5G phones and Apple dominates the premium segment.
Aaron West, Senior Analyst in Omdia's Smartphone group explains: "The smartphone chipset industry is primarily shaped by two major trends: the widespread adoption of 5G and the expanding low-end segment. As 5G technology becomes more affordable and is integrated into smartphones priced below $250, MediaTek stands to benefit the most. Conversely, on-device AI capabilities are becoming increasingly important to smartphone OEMs, with Snapdragon emerging as a key innovator and preferred choice for premium devices."
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Contact: Fasiha Khan - Fasiha.khan@omdia.com