5G boosts global smartphone shipments in 2021

Global shipments of smartphones rose in 2021 for the first time in five years. Analysts say the uptick was spurred on by the spread of 5G technology.

US research firm IDC says about 1.35 billion smartphones were shipped worldwide in 2021, up 5.7 percent from the previous year.

The firm says demand rose as users replaced their smartphones with models that can connect to high-speed 5G networks.

South Korea’s Samsung held on to the top spot, with 20.1 percent of the market share.

US tech giant Apple came in second with 17.4 percent, followed by China’s Xiaomi with 14.1 percent.