In 2021, Samsung generated over $244 billion in revenue compared to Apple’s $365 billion. In 2020, Samsung generated over $206 billion in revenue, compared to Apple’s over $274 billion.
Elements · Apple · Samsung · Similarities · Differences · Competitive Advantage
Customer Segments
Apple. Consumer electronics users, premium market
Samsung. Consumer electronics users, diverse market segments
Similarities. Both target consumer electronics users. Apple focuses on the premium market. Samsung caters to a more diverse range of market segments, including budget-conscious consumers.
Differences. Apple’s primary focus is on the premium market, while Samsung addresses a wider range of customer segments across various price points.
Competitive Advantage. Premium Market (Apple), Diverse Segments (Samsung).
Similarities. Both prioritize innovation in their products. Apple emphasizes the user experience and its ecosystem (iOS). Samsung offers a wide variety of products and affordability.
Differences. Apple places a strong emphasis on the overall user experience and seamless integration within its ecosystem. Samsung offers a broader product variety and focuses on affordability.
Similarities. Both utilize online sales channels and have retail stores. Apple operates its chain of Apple Stores and authorized resellers. Samsung’s products are available through various retailers and partnerships.
Differences. Apple has a dedicated network of Apple Stores, while Samsung relies on partnerships with various retailers and operates its retail stores, though to a lesser extent.
Competitive Advantage. Apple Store Network (Apple), Retail Partnerships (Samsung).
Customer Relationships
Apple. Brand loyalty, customer service
Samsung. Brand loyalty, customer support
Similarities. Both brands have strong brand loyalty. Apple is known for its customer service and support. Samsung also maintains customer loyalty through its products and services.
Differences. Both companies build customer loyalty through brand reputation and offer customer support. Apple is particularly known for its customer service.
Competitive Advantage. Strong Brand Loyalty (Both), Exceptional Customer Service (Apple).
Similarities. Both engage in design, R&D, marketing, and retail operations. Apple’s focus is on product design and creating a seamless user experience. Samsung is a vertically integrated company involved in manufacturing.
Differences. Apple’s design and user experience are core to its activities. Samsung’s vertically integrated model includes manufacturing, which allows for a diverse range of product offerings.
Competitive Advantage. Design and User Experience (Apple), Vertical Integration (Samsung).
Similarities. Both rely on brand strength and innovation. Apple invests significantly in R&D centers. Samsung’s resources include manufacturing facilities and innovation centers.
Differences. Apple’s primary assets are its brand and designinnovation. Samsung’s resources include manufacturing capabilities, allowing for a broader product range.
Competitive Advantage. Brand and Innovation (Apple), Manufacturing Capabilities (Samsung).
Key Partnerships
Apple. App developers, suppliers, carriers
Samsung. Suppliers, carriers, software developers
Similarities. Both collaborate with app developers, suppliers, and carriers. Apple partners with app developers for its App Store. Samsung collaborates with software developers for its Android-based products.
Differences. Apple’s App Store ecosystem relies on partnerships with app developers. Samsung leverages partnerships for software development on its Android-based devices.
Similarities. Both generate revenue from hardware sales and software services. Apple’s significant revenue source is hardware. Samsung diversifies its revenue streams with component sales.
Differences. Apple’s primary revenue stream comes from hardware sales, including iPhones and Macs. Samsung’s revenue is diversified, with significant income from component sales, such as displays and chips.
Similarities. Both have costs related to manufacturing, marketing, and R&D. Apple’s marketing and R&D expenses are relatively high due to its focus on design and innovation. Samsung incurs costs associated with manufacturing a wide range of products.
Differences. Apple’s cost structure includes significant R&D expenses related to design and innovation. Samsung’s costs encompass manufacturing across various product categories.
Competitive Advantage. Design and R&D Investment (Apple), Broad Manufacturing (Samsung).
How we source: figures on this page come from the company’s own filings (SEC 10-K, 10-Q and earnings releases, or its annual report), with the period stated next to each number. Last refreshed October 2026. Our methodology.
Key numbersAs stated in this article
$206 billionIn 2020, Samsung generated over $206 billion in revenue, compared to Apple's over $274 billion.This article
62%Apple Distribution In 2022, most of Apple's sales (62%) came from indirect channels (comprising third-party…This article
38%In comparison, the direct channel represented 38% of the total revenues.This article
$2,404,439Apple Cash On Hand Apple Revenue Per Employee Apple had 164000 full-time employees as of 2022, generating…This article
In one lineIn 2021, Samsung generated over $244 billion in revenue compared to Apple's $365 billion.
FourWeekMBABusiness EngineerAt a glance
In 2021, Samsung generated over $244 billion in revenue compared to Apple's $365 billion.
Apple's primary focus is on the premium market, while Samsung addresses a wider range of customer segments across various price points.
Apple's App Store ecosystem relies on partnerships with app developers.
Apple's primary revenue stream comes from hardware sales, including iPhones and Macs.
Layout refreshed 6 October 2026. The article text below is unchanged.
Why it mattersFrom the article
Apple places a strong emphasis on the overall user experience and seamless integration within its ecosystem.
Samsung's vertically integrated model includes manufacturing, which allows for a diverse range of product offerings.
Apple has a business model that is divided into products and services. Apple generated over $394 billion in revenues in 2022, of which $205.5 came from iPhone sales, $40 billion came from Mac sales, over $41 billion came from accessories and wearables (AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, HomePod, iPod touch, and accessories), $29.3 billion came from iPad sales, and $78.13 billion came from services.
iPhone and Services sales represented the main revenue drivers in 2022. Within the service revenues, the fastest growing sub-segment was the advertising business Apple built on top of the App Store, followed by the Mac, Accessories & Wearables, and the iPad.
In 2022, most of Apple’s sales (62%) came from indirect channels (comprising third-party cellular networks, wholesalers/retailers, and resellers). These channels are critical for sales amplification, scale, and subsidies (to enable the iPhone to be purchased by many people). In comparison, the direct channel represented 38% of the total revenues. Stores are critical for customer experience, enabling the service business, and branding at scale.
Apple is a tech giant, and as such, it encompasses a set of value propositions that make Apple’s brand recognized, among consumers. The three fundamental value propositions of Apple’s brand leverage the “Think Different” motto; reliable tech devices for mass markets; and starting in 2019, Apple also started to emphasize more and more privacy to differentiate itself from other tech giants.
In 2022, Apple is worth two and a half trillion dollars. Apple generated over $205 billion from iPhone sales in 2022, which accounted for over 52% of its net sales—followed by services revenues at over $78 billion, wearables and accessories at over $41 billion, Mac sales at $40 billion, and iPad sales at over $29 billion.
In 2022, the iPhone represented over 52% of total Apple’s sales and the underlying force that powers up Apple’s business ecosystem. In 2022, the iPhone generated over $205 billion in revenue, compared to almost $192 billion in 2021.
Apple’s mission is “to bring the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services.” And in a manifesto dated 2019 Tim Cook set the vision specified as “We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that’s not changing.”
Apple’s made over $394 billion in revenues in 2022, of which over $205 billion or 52% of its total revenues came from the iPhone. Yet, the iPhone isn’t just a hardware product; it’s a businessplatform that combines hardware (iPhone), operating system (iOS), and a marketplace (the App Store). Thus, the company still makes most of its money around a single product which powers up an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
iPhone still drives Apple ($54.3B in the June 2026 quarter, +22%), and Services adds $30.7B. Source: Apple quarterly earnings releases (Form 8-K, SEC EDGAR). Analysis by The Business Engineer.
Gennaro Cuofano is a CRO and tech executive who has worked in AI since late 2015, starting with bringing NLP, natural-language generation, voice and chatbot products to the marketing industry. His background is in law and finance: he holds a Master's degree in Law and an International MBA with an emphasis on corporate finance (LUISS Business School and the University of San Diego, 2012), and worked as a financial analyst at a real-estate investment firm in San Diego and as an assistant controller. His work focuses on business model strategy, business engineering and, more broadly, structural analysis: how companies make money, read from their own filings. He created FourWeekMBA and leads research there and at The Business Engineer, his newsletter on AI and business strategy, with over 95,000 subscribers and more than 1,000 published analyses. His writing has also appeared on Entrepreneur (for example, How to Digitize a Family Business in Europe) and HackerNoon. Find him on LinkedIn and Substack. See how we source.
