For the first time, Apple overtakes Samsung to lead global smartphone market

Apple has surpassed Samsung for the first time in the global smartphone market in 2023, according to IDC, a research company. Apple has taken the lead, with the last time Samsung conceding leadership being in 2010 when Nokia held a third of the market.

Overall, the global smartphone market continues to face challenges, but a recovery trend persists. According to IDC data, global smartphone shipments decreased by 3.2% year-on-year to 1.17 billion units in 2023. Although this is the lowest annual volume in a decade, the fourth quarter saw an 8.5% growth compared to the same period last year, reaching 326.1 million units, exceeding the predicted 7.3%.

"In the second half of 2023, we observed significant growth among low-end Android players, such as Transsion and Xiaomi, linked to rapid expansion in developing markets. However, the biggest winner is Apple," said Nabila Popal, director of research at IDC Worldwide Tracker.

"Apple not only demonstrates positive growth annually as the only player among the top three leaders but also, for the first time in history, takes the top spot globally. This happens despite tightening regulatory issues and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market. Apple's consistent success and stability are largely explained by the growing demand for premium-class devices, which now constitute over 20% of the market, driven by aggressive trade-in programs and interest-free financing plans," she added.

Ryan Reith, vice president of IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, noted that Huawei is making a comeback and quickly capturing the market in China. Brands like OnePlus, Honor, Google, and others offer highly competitive devices in the lower market segment. Foldable devices and the growing discussion of artificial intelligence capabilities on smartphones are gaining momentum: "Overall, the smartphone market is entering a very interesting time."