Apple has dethroned Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, breaking Samsung’s decade-long reign. The IDC’s latest report for 2023 reveals Apple’s ascension with 234.6 million iPhones shipped, capturing 20.1% of the global market, a growth of 3.7%. Samsung, on the other hand, slipped to second place with 226.6 million units and a diminished market share of 19.4%, marking a 13.6% decline.
Apple’s success is attributed to steady growth in the premium segment, constituting over 20% of sales, robust performance in the U.S., and innovative resale, exchange, and leasing programs. This marks Samsung’s first loss since Nokia’s heyday in 2010 when the Finnish giant held a third of the market.
China’s Xiaomi secured the third spot with 145.9 million smartphones, followed by Oppo and Transsion, the latter experiencing the highest growth rate in the top five. Interestingly, Samsung, gearing up for the Galaxy S24 series launch, is the only one in the top five with a Q4 2023 sales decline.
The smartphone market, overall, witnessed a 3.2% volume decline in 2023, hitting a 1.17 billion device low, the worst in a decade. However, a glimmer of hope emerged in Q4 2023, with an 8.5% shipment growth to 326.1 million units, hinting at potential demand revival in 2024.
IDC notes the resurgence of lower-tier Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi, particularly in emerging markets. Huawei’s resurgence in China, the surge in foldable smartphones, and the rising importance of AI in smartphones are highlighted as key market dynamics.
As the industry witnesses unprecedented shifts, IDC’s Ryan Reith anticipates intriguing times ahead for the smartphone market, marked by fierce competition, technological advancements, and changing consumer preferences.
