Samsung launched the world's first 5G phones last year with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G and Galaxy S10 5G. Although the carrier is still building out its 5G network, millions of people around the world have purchased Samsung's 5G phones--at least according to Samsung.

The company announced tonight (January 2) that it has shipped more than 6.7 million 5G Galaxy phones worldwide; at the IFA trade show in September, the company announced that it had shipped 2 million 5G phones, meaning Samsung has significantly increased its holiday quarter shipments.

Shipment volume does not equal sales volume. However, Samsung probably will not ship more than a few million phones that retailers can sell.

Samsung also said that its phones account for more than half of the global 5G smartphone market, 53.9% to be exact. The company also manufactures a wider variety of 5G handsets than many other companies selling 5G handsets, including LG, which offers only one 5G handset model. (In addition to the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G and Galaxy S10 5G, Samsung also manufactures a 5G version of its giant bendable phablet Galaxy Fold, which it sells in Korea, Germany, and the UK (this version will not be released). (That version will not enter the U.S.)

If Samsung sold nearly 7 million 5G phones, it would be a remarkable development, but a sparrow's throw compared to the 79 million smartphones the company sold overall in the third quarter last year. However, given the high price tag of over $1,000 for Samsung's 5G phones and the limited availability of 5G (at least in the US), the fact that Samsung may have sold millions of these phones is a good sign for the company.

As for 2020, when Samsung announced shipments of 5G phones, it said it is working on ways to further improve the speed, performance, and security of its 5G-enabled devices. the S10 5G and Note 10 Plus 5G both cost $1,299 and are more affordable than other Samsung flagships, which is considerably more expensive than the other flagship devices.