In the fourth quarter of 2023, Apple claimed the top spot as the world’s leading smartphone vendor, surpassing Samsung and securing a 24% share of total shipments, according to Canalys, a research company focusing on smartphones and technologies.
This achievement also marked the first time Apple outpaced Samsung on an annual basis, concluding the year as the top vendor. Smartphone shipments in Q4 2023 reached 320 million units, showing an 8% point increase from the same period in 2022.
Q4 2023 witnessed positive growth, breaking a streak of seven consecutive quarters of decline. Canalys projects a total of 1.1 billion smartphone shipments for 2023, reflecting a 4-percentage-point decrease from 2022 values.
During Q4 2023, Apple dominated with 24% of all shipments, driven by strong demand for its iPhone 15 series. Samsung secured the second position with a 17% market share but experienced a decline in the low-end segment.
Xiaomi claimed the third spot with 13%, while Transsion (known for Infinix, Tecno plus other brands) continued its ascent, capturing 9% and becoming the fourth leading smartphone vendor. Vivo rounded out the top five with a 7% share.
Canalys analysts attribute the demand rebound to markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, with low and midrange devices playing a crucial role as growth drivers. Looking forward, Canalys anticipates on-device AI to be the primary focus for high-end devices launched in 2024, as major players aim to meet the increasing market demand.
