Top 10: Phone Manufacturers

Mobile phones are essential in our digitally connected world.

From communication to collaboration the modern phone can be used for anything, from ordering food to paying bills to navigating whole new countries and cities. 

Our reliance on digital technologies like phones has only grown since it was necessitated by COVID-19, with the manufacturers that create these phones playing a pivotal role in facilitating all the above.

Today's consumers choose phones from a market crowded with choice and sophisticated features, from advanced cameras to foldable screens to built in AI. All this competition drives incredible innovation, which Manufacturing Digital has chosen today to recognise in this week's top ten. 

Ranked according to their 2023 revenue, welcome to our listing of the top ten phone manufacturers of 2024.

10. Tecno Mobile

Founded: 2006

Employees: 10,000+

CEO: George Zhu

2023 revenue: US$2.48bn

Tecno Mobile is a rising star in the phone manufacturing market.

Rapidly expanding its presence to more than 70 countries with a focus on emerging markets in Africa and India, the company pursues a popular strategy of affordability and strategic innovation.

An example of this strategic innovation is its focus on durability and long battery life, understanding the needs of local markets and necessity of carving out a distinctive value proposition for users swamped by choice.

Committed to local manufacturing and tailored marketing, Tecno Mobile has managed to juggle making its technology accessible to broad audiences while fostering brand loyalty.

This brand loyalty is enhanced by the manufacturer's extensive after-sales service and distribution network, which ensures customers needs are well attended to. 

9. Vivo

Founded: 2009

Employees: 10,000+

CEO: Shen Wei

Revenue: US$2.7bn

With a strong market presence in Asia and plans to steadily expand to global markets, Vivo specialises in sleek mobile design and camera-centric smartphones. 

Known for its innovations like gimbal-stabilised cameras, sophisticated 5G capabilities and in-display fingerprint sensors, its phones appeal primarily to younger users, carving out a distinctive niche in an industry dominated by competitors vying for broad, universal appeal.

The company also focuses on marketing across both online and offline channels, to appeal to budget-conscious consumers. 

Vivo recently became the top smartphone manufacturer in India, with a market share of 19%. It shipped a staggering 9.1 million units in Q3 2024 alone. 

8. Xiaomi

Founded: 2010

Employees: 34,600

CEO: Lei Jun

2023 revenue: US$38bn

Xiaomi is a phone manufacturing giant, boasting affordable smartphones packed with exceptional features. It's extensive product lineup caters to every price range, with premium camera quality, battery life and software customisation across MIUI. Xiaomi's ecosystem doesn't just end at phones, with the company's offerings integrating seamlessly with smartphone products. 

In surveys Xiaomi users exhibit a loyalty rate of 63.2%, choosing the brand for its combination of quality and affordability.

The brand continues to grow, appealing to tech-savvy consumers and carving out a place as a key player in the competitive smartphone market.

7. OPPO

Founded: 2004

Employees: 40,000+

CEO: Tony Chen

2023 revenue: US$33.58m

Phone manufacturer OPPO is renowned for combining manufacturing innovation with luxury design.

Delivering SuperVOOC fast charging and high-end camera systems, OPPO's flagship Find and Reno series are highly regarded for their premium aesthetics and technological advancements. 

With a strong market presence in China and India, OPPO continues to improve phone periscope zoom lenses and advanced image processing algorithms.

The company's focus on this has made it a popular choice amongst photography enthusiasts. 

6. Lenovo

• Founded: 1984
• Employees: 75,000
• CEO: Yuanqing Yang
• Revenue: US$56.9bn

The technology giant Lenovo now owns Motorola, a historic mobile phone manufacturer. Motorola phones were known historically for durable designs, clean interfaces and robust performance. 

Today Lenovo's offerings continue in this tradition, with new innovations like foldable displays that differentiate it from other competitors. 

The manufacturer has established a significant market share, particularly in the laptop and tablet sectors, which complements its smartphone offerings.

Lenovo engages its global customer base through targeted marketing strategies, helping to reinforce its position as a leading phone manufacturer. 

5. Google

• Founded: 1998
• Employees: 190,000
• CEO: Sundar Pichai
• Revenue: US$237.8bn

Google, the renowned technology leader, is also an influential phone manufacturer. 

The company produces the Google Pixel series, phones which offer streamlined user experiences and impressive AI features. 

Seamless integration between Google services is provided on these phones that excel in terms of their software, photography and AI offerings. 

Google consistently ranks higher in customer loyalty among tech giants, recently topping the Fortune 100 list with a score of 71.9 out of 100

Despite the challenges the company has faced in retaining smartphone users, it's wider technology ecosystem strengthens its influence and appeal within the market.

4. Sony

• Founded: 1946
• Employees: 113,000
• CEO: Kenichiro Yoshida
• Revenue: US$85.395bn

Sony’s Xperia phones combine cutting-edge camera technology and 4K display innovation, appealing to multimedia enthusiasts across the world. 

Combining premium designs with wider brand product integration, Sony remains a trusted phone manufacturer for those seeking  top-tier performance and entertainment-focused features.

Despite challenges with sales, Sony has built a reputation for cutting-edge design and reliability, with its Xperia smartphone line a standout option in todays market. 

This is thanks to the company's consistent commitment to integrating advanced features and user-friendly interfaces.

3. Huawei

Founded: 1987

Employees: 170,000+

CEO: Ren Zhengfei

Revenue: US$99.44m

Huawei is a global telecommunications and smartphone giant, with top-tier phone offerings that offer elite hardware innovation, battery life and quality. 

With a strong drive to innovate, enhance brand loyalty and expand market presence, Huawei has cultivated a loyal customer base in China that surpasses even Apple's customer retention rates. 

Many users express a preference for Huawei's devices and ecosystem, especially with the introduction of its holistic HarmonyOS.

Huawei's focus on high-quality products and exceptional customer service has inspired significant brand loyalty, spurring further growth.

2. Apple

Founded: 1976

Employees: 164,000 worldwide

CEO: Tim Cook

Revenue: US$383.28bn

Apple famously revolutionised the smartphone industry with the iPhone.

With its iconic ecosystem integration, user-friendly iOS and seamless design, the iPhone set industry standards and changed the future of digital technology as we know it. 

A leading premium smartphone manufacturer, Apple has grown robust brand loyalty, with a user retention rate of an impressive 92%.

Apple's drive to continually update and innovate the iPhone is a reflection of consumer preferences for the model, often choosing to upgrade within the ecosystem. 

The company's commitment to high-quality design and cutting-edge features has established it as a status symbol, further solidifying its influence in the smartphone market

1. Samsung

Founded: 1938

Employees: 266,000

CEO: Han Jong-hee and Kyung Kye-hyun (co-CEOs since 2021)

Revenue: US$225bn

Samsung is currently the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.

It's Galaxy line excels in innovation, display technology and performance, featuring foldable phones and a robust supply chain. 

During the third quarter of 2024 Samsung edged past Apple to hold the largest slice of the global smartphone market by shipments. 

This is thanks to a drop in iPhone shipments, solidifying Samsung's growing dominance.

As of 2024, the manufacturer holds over 19% of the global smartphone market.

This is largely owed to the growing popularity of its products, which exhibit useful AI features, stylish designs and convenient features.

Apple and Samsung now stand side by side, as the two biggest brands and competitors in global smartphone manufacturing. 

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