Samsung has reclaimed its position as the leading smartphone seller, surpassing Apple as Chinese competitors narrow the gap on both market giants, according to a report by industry tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) released Monday.
Global smartphone shipments increased by nearly 8 percent in the first quarter of this year, reaching 289.4 million units, IDC’s preliminary data revealed. This marks the third consecutive quarter of growth in the global smartphone market, indicating a recovery from a previous slump.
Ryan Reith, vice president of IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, anticipates that major smartphone companies will gain market share while smaller brands may face challenges as the recovery progresses.
Samsung secured the top spot by shipping 60.1 million smartphones in the first quarter, capturing nearly 21 percent of the market, according to IDC.
In the same period, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, claiming just over 17 percent of the market, experiencing a 9.6 percent decline in shipments compared to the previous quarter, IDC reported. Meanwhile, Chinese brands Xiaomi and Transsion saw significant growth, with shipments increasing by approximately 33 percent and 85 percent, respectively.
“While Apple briefly held the top position at the end of 2023, Samsung has once again emerged as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter,” commented Reith.
IDC expects Samsung and Apple to maintain their dominance in the high-end smartphone market, while Chinese competitors focus on expanding their sales.
Nabila Popal, research director at IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, noted a shift in power among the top five companies, which is likely to continue as market players adapt their strategies in a post-recovery world. She highlighted Xiaomi’s resurgence after experiencing declines in recent years and Transsion’s growing presence in international markets with aggressive growth.
