Apple has surged to the forefront of the global smartphone industry, surpassing Samsung for the first time in over a decade. The American tech giant now claims more than 20% of worldwide smartphone shipments, as per the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC). This significant shift topples Samsung, which held a 19.4% market share, with Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion trailing in the rankings.
Despite a general decline in smartphone sales, influenced by the large-scale upgrades during the pandemic, Apple's performance stands out. The IDC report highlights a 3% decrease in total smartphone sales last year, the lowest in ten years, primarily driven by economic challenges and high interest rates. Nonetheless, experts are optimistic about a market rebound in the near future.
Apple's triumph is noteworthy. The company sold over 234 million phones last year, making it the only top three brand to record annual growth. Nabila Popal from IDC remarked, "Apple is the biggest winner, claiming the top spot for the first time ever." This success comes despite facing increased regulatory challenges and competition, notably from Huawei in China, Apple's largest market.
Huawei's progress in chip manufacturing, despite U.S. technology restrictions citing national security concerns, highlights the competitive landscape. Apple's sales are also boosted by attractive trade-in offers and interest-free financing for premium devices.
Meanwhile, Samsung faces a decline, marking a shift for the company that has long been the world's largest manufacturer of memory chips, smartphones, and televisions. Amid weakened global demand for consumer electronics, Samsung anticipates a drop in profits, and also confronts competition from cost-effective Android models, especially from Transsion and Xiaomi, which are gaining traction in budget-conscious and emerging markets.
The IDC also observes an evolving smartphone market, with increasing fragmentation among Android providers and growing consumer interest in foldable phones and AI capabilities.
