Smartphone vendor market share in Latin America 2019-2021, by quarter

In the fourth quarter of 2021, Samsung had a 36.5 percent share of the smartphone market in Latin America, based on shipments. It was followed by Motorola, accounting for nearly 23 percent of the smartphone market in the region.

Increase and distribution in Latin America

While smartphone penetration in the region was forecast to continue to increase – reaching a share of 81 percent by 2025 – the presence of these devices across Latin America is not homogenous. The most populated nations were also the ones with the largest numbers of smartphone owners: Brazil and Mexico had around 155 million and 81 million users, respectively. However, the penetration rates vary from country to country. For instance, two out of five Bolivians owned a smartphone, whereas more than four out of five Chileans had this type of gadget.

A traditional pioneer in mobile telecommunications

Since 1993, the cityscape of the capital of Chile, Santiago, features an iconic building shaped after a cell phone. The Andean country makes justice to this postcard classic by featuring the highest and yet growing smartphone penetration in Latin America. In 2015, less than 11 percent of Chileans used this device. Ten years later, the share is forecast to surpass 88 percent. Chile was estimated to be home to over 16 million smartphone owners in 2021, indicating a continued interest of its consumers in mobile technology.