By milagan
After a twelve-year reign, Apple’s iPhone dethrones Samsung as the world’s leading smartphone. According to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC,) Apple sold 234.6 million iPhones. This surpasses Samsung’s 226.6 million units. Apple’s market share stands at 20.1 percent, while Samsung’s is at 19.4 percent. This translates to 11.6 percent growth for Apple in Q4 2023, and 10.9 percent decline for Samsung.
Industry analysts say Apple’s remarkable rise to this success is because of premium devices like the iPhone. Budget-friendly rivals like Xiaomi and Transsion have been chipping away at Samsung’s market share. These brands are among the top five, with market shares of 12.5 percent for Xiaomi, Transsion (TECNO, Infinix Itel) at 8.6 percent, and vivo at 7.4 percent.
Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, shares, “Apple’s ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market, fueled by aggressive trade-in offers and interest-free financing plans.”
In 2023, the market dipped slightly by 3.2 percent in smartphone shipments, totaling 1.17 billion units in 2023. Despite this, the industry is on a path to recovery, seeing a strong comeback this 2024. New Samsung models are also set to launch soon, so the battle may not be over yet!
“Growth in the second half of the year has cemented the expected recovery for 2024,” the IDC said in a statement.
As a consumer, you’re sure to expect even more choices from Apple and Android brands. And these come in varying features and price ranges for every preference. It’s an exciting year ahead for more tech and better deals, for sure!
(Source: Agence France-Presse)