Samsung is leading the race as Apple loses its top phone maker position since iPhone shipments shot down in the first quarter of 2024.
The first quarter of 2024 has already passed, as per the metrics of Apple (AAPL). Smartphone shipments shot down nearly 10%; it is being speculated that intensifying competition by Android smartphone makers aiming for the top spot is causing this, according to data from research firm IDC.
Global smartphone shipments rose 7.8% to 289.4 million units during the first quarter from January to March, at 20.8% market share, clinching the top phone maker spot from Apple.
Apple’s iPhone sales started shooting down sharply after going through a tough quarter. It even overtook Samsung as the world’s number one phone maker, but unfortunately, it has fallen back to second place with 17.3% market share as Chinese brands such as Huawei gain market share.
Xiaomi was in the third position with a 14.1% share during the first quarter. One of the key reasons behind Apple losing its first position is Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, which launched earlier this year, and the brand has shipped more than 60 million units of the Galaxy S24 within the first quarter.
Global sales of Galaxy S24 smartphones boosted by 8% as compared to their predecessor Galaxy S23 series in their first three weeks of availability, data provider Counterpoint previously said. As per the metrics of the first quarter, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, down from the 55.4 million units it shipped in the same period last year, according to IDC.
Whereas, Apple’s smartphone shipments in China shrank 2.1% in the final quarter of 2023 as compared to 2022. iPhone sales collapsed in China, which is Apple’s third-biggest market. This decline is partly because of restrictions placed on Apple devices by a few Chinese brands and also government agencies, mirroring the same actions the US government has taken against Chinese applications. Apple will hold its WWDC in June to introduce software updates for its devices.
