1 Billion Android Smartphones Shipped in 2014 [REPORT]

By Anuj

| Published: Friday, January 30, 2015, 9:30 [IST]

Google's Android mobile OS has been doing great, despite Apple's growing dominance in several key emerging markets. Now, for the first time ever, worldwide shipments of smartphones powered by Android actually exceeded 1 billion units in 2014, Strategy Analytics announced Thursday.

The research firm estimates that over 1.3 billion smartphones were shipped in 2014, and notably a whopping 1 billion ran over Android. Google's Android mobile OS has become the first ever smartphone operating system to ship more than 1 billion units in a single year.

1 Billion Android Smartphones Shipped in 2014 [REPORT]

"Global smartphone shipments grew 30 percent annually from 1.0 billion units in 2013 to a record 1.3 billion in 2014. Emerging markets, such as China and Indonesia, drove the industry's growth last year and they will continue to do so through 2015," notes Strategy Analysts.

The data clearly shows that Google's Android OS has massively gained in emerging markets, a trend that's here to stay. Android accounted for a massive 81 % share of all smartphones shipped globally in 2014, whereas Apple has a respectable 15% market share with its iOS mobile OS.

The report further notes that in the past year, Apple shipped 192.7 million smartphones worldwide in 2014. During the past Q4, the tech giant from Cupertino sold a cool 74.5 million smartphones, while its arch rival - Samsung reported the biggest profit decline in three years.

Strategy Analysts also mentioned that Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS was able to grab 3% of the worldwide smartphone market. The Redmond-based software giant shipped 38.8 million smartphones in 2014.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!