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Keep in mind that the market share figures are also distorted by what the Android makers are reporting as "smartphones" are not truly all smartphones. The product mixes are not all smartphones. Just because they are running Android, a smartphone operating system does not mean that the device is a smartphone.

When Judge Lucy Koh required Samsung to provide a product break down of their shipped phones to determine actual infringement damages in the Apple v. samsung patent lawsuit, Samsung was forced under protest to reveal that instead of shipping, as they claimed 100% Android smartphones, the product mix was actually ~30% Android basic phones with no smart capabilities, ~40% Feature phones with only built-in functions, and no ability to download and install new apps, and ~30% actual fully functional smartphones, those with the ability to download and install apps, and do everything one would expect a "Smartphone" to be capable of doing. Therefore, of the reported 320 million "smartphones" Samsung had reportedly shipped in 2013, ~96 million were basic Android phones, ~128 million were limited function Android Feature phones, and another ~96 million were fully functional Android Smartphones.

In 2013, Apple sold 150 million iPhones, 100% of which were Smartphones.

Yet, according to the companies that compared shipments of smartphones, because Samsung claimed to have shipped 320 million Android phones which were ALL counted as smartphones, Samsung was counted as shipping 320 million "Smartphones," while Apple was counted as selling only 150 million, just 48% as many actual Smartphones. But in actual fact, Samsung only sold 96 million true smartphones. The rest of their products were NOT smartphones but lesser capable phones that just happened to use Android as an underlying OS.

These comparison companies are comparing the wrong things by including all Android phones as "Smartphones" when these clearly are not capable of being called Smartphones because they lack the functionality.

Canaccord Genuity reports that Apple and Samsung take a total of 105% of all cellular phone maker profits in 2015, with Apple accounting for 91% and Samsung 14%. How can these two companies account for more than 100%? Simple, the rest lost money. (Note: Chinese makers are not required to report profits so are not being included in Canaccord Genuity's report. However, other companies who also do a profit share report calculate the Chinese companies' profits from their Chinese Tax returns and their reports are in accordance with Canaccord's findings, if not higher, with at least one claiming Apple's share at 94% of the industry's profit share.) -- PING!

Apple Takes 91% of Mobile Phone Industry Profit Share
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I’ve seen this breakout or breakdown probably a dozen or so times the past 2-3 years and some of it makes sense and some of it doesn’t.

We all know that not every Android phone is a smart phone. I’m guessing that only Galaxy 5 and 6’s count as Samsung’s smart phones.

I also know that every mobile product Apple sells is considered one.

Now, what about full featured Tab tablets and iPads? I mean the kind with full data capabilities? Do they or do they not fit into this breakdown? If they have phone numbers are they “phones”? Or are they computing devices.

If a Galaxy and iPhone are the same price what is the reason for such a profit disparity? Regionalization? I have no idea if Samsung gets away with charging Apple’s premium around the world and I know Apple doesn’t discount.

There’s more questions I have about the “why” in these reports and breakdowns than are ever answered.