Hardware security was embedded in 35% of the smartphones sold globally in H1 2020, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Component Practice. This share is expected to reach 38% in 2021. Apple led the secure chipset market in H1 2020 with 39% share and is expected to lead the market in 2021.

Commenting on smartphone security, Research Analyst Parv Sharma said, "Smartphones have become vulnerable to attacks. We use them for banking, financial transactions, biometrics, user data and even as digital keys for smart homes and automobiles. Therefore, the need for hardware security in smartphones is stronger than ever."

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Commenting on the competitive landscape in the secure chipset market, Research Vice President Neil Shah said, "Hardware-backed security (strong box) means that keys are stored in the secure element, which is a separate microchip. , a trusted execution environment (TEE) is a secure area of the main processor which runs its OS and communicates with the main OS via a restricted interface. The strong box approach is more secure. Chipset OEMs have embedded eSE their SoC. Apple’s portfolio for 2020 has an embedded secure element in the A Series chipsets. Apple led the secure chipset market with 39% share in H1 2020."

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While Apple led this market in H1 2020, Apple's blowout calendar Q4 iPhone shipments will only make their market share in embedded hardware increase once H2 statistics become available.