According to the latest report, Strategy Analytics data showed that the global smartphone application processor (AP) market will grow by 23% in 2021 to reach $30.8 billion.
Among them, Qualcomm maintained its leadership in smartphone APs with a 38% revenue share, followed by MediaTek and Apple with 26% each.
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Moreover, Apple, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and Zhanrui will increase their market shares in 2021, while HiSilicon and Samsung LSI will have a decline in their market shares.
In terms of shipments, MediaTek will surpass Qualcomm in 2021. But Qualcomm’s revenue in 2021 is more than 43% higher than MediaTek’s, thanks to its higher premium and higher-end AP mix.
In addition, Zhanrui achieved a strong recovery in 2021 with the update and upgrade of LTE AP products. Strategy Analytics believes that Zhanrui may capture LTE AP market share from MediaTek in 2022 as it shifts its focus to 5G.
Furthermore, in 2021, 5G-connected AP shipments will climb 84% year on year, accounting for 46% of total smartphone AP shipments. At the same time, in 2021, the shipment of APs equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) engines on devices will exceed 900 million, which is basically the same as in 2020.
Strategy Analytics also noted that TSMC will account for three-quarters of smartphone APs produced in 2021. Meanwhile, smartphone APs manufactured using 7nm and below process, technology accounted for 43% of total shipments.
In addition, Google entered the smartphone AP market with its Pixel Tensor chip in 2021, gaining about 0.1% volume and revenue share.
