Apple has overtaken Samsung in global smartphone shipments for the first time in the past 13 years.
According to a new report from IDC, the long time runner up in smartphone sales, Apple, claimed the top spot in 2023 with a 20.1 percent market share, compared to Samsung’s 19.4 percent.
Contrary to usual practice, the global smartphone market saw a decline of 3.2 percent in smartphone shipments in 2023. However, defying the odds, Apple charted growth in the same period. The surge in Apple’s smartphone sales could be attributed to the success of iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 ranges. The rise in premium phones’ demand, despite the slump, seems to have worked in Apple’s favor.
As the smartphone market dynamics shuffle, Samsung is now feeling the heat from other Android market competitors. Companies like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, and Google have entered the market with competitive pricing and features, directly impacting Samsung’s sales.
Meanwhile, on the Asian front, Huawei is reclaiming its space in the Chinese market, the world’s largest smartphone consumer market. This development coupled with the global downturn has put pressure on Samsung’s sales.
However, experts at IDC forecast a potential resurgence in the smartphone market in 2024. The advent of new AI features and the rise in the foldable phone trend, where Samsung was a forerunner, stand as reasons for Samsung’s optimism for reclaiming its market dominance.
While a healthy rivalry in global market share is essential, this reshuffle holds more significant implications. With Apple now leading in shipments, the company sets the stage for welfare improvement in the smartphone industry. It’ll be interesting to see how Samsung responds to this, and how these shifts will affect the smartphone industry’s future.
