In a significant shift, Apple has claimed the top spot as the world’s largest seller of smartphones, ending Samsung Electronics’ 12-year reign, according to data from the International Data Corp (IDC). Apple secured a commanding 20% share of the global smartphone market in 2023, while Samsung concluded the year with a 19.4% share.
Preliminary data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker revealed that China’s Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion followed closely, with Samsung slipping to the second position. The reshuffling of rankings is attributed to a challenging year marked by subdued consumer demand for smartphone upgrades, influenced by broader macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened inflation rates.
The slower-than-anticipated recovery in China, the world’s largest smartphone market, further dampened overall phone sales. Apple and Transsion emerged as the only brands within the top five to experience growth in shipments amid a market decline of 3.2% to 1.17 billion units, reaching a decade-low.
While Apple celebrates its ascendancy in the smartphone market, it faces mounting competition in China, particularly from a resurgent Huawei and budget Chinese brands. In response, the tech giant has implemented rare discounts of up to 5% on select models within the country, a strategic move aimed at enticing customers in a fiercely competitive landscape.
