According to the latest quarterly research from Strategy Analytics, global smart speaker shipments reached 11.7 million units in the second quarter (Q2) of 2018. And there’s a bit of good news for the HomePod, which, per most estimates, is seeing underwhelming sales.
The Google Home Mini was the world’s best-selling smart speaker during the quarter followed closely by Amazon’s Echo Dot, according to the research group. Apple’s HomePod didn’t feature in the top-five ranking by shipments, but it did top the market value rankings with 16% share of wholesale revenues.
“Unsurprisingly, Amazon and Google models dominated the best-selling list of smart speakers in Q2 2018,” says David Watkins, director of Strategy Analytics’ Smart Speaker Service. “The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot accounted for a combined 38% of global shipments although they contributed just 17% towards the value of the market due to their low price. Apple on the other hand has focused its smart speaker efforts at the premium end of the market, promoting the HomePod’s audio prowess ahead of the device’s voice control capabilities. Apple took a 6% share of shipments in Q2 2018 but it is the market leader in terms of revenue with 16% share and holds a dominate 70% share of the small but growing $200+ premium price band.”
