In the first quarter of 2024, Apple experienced a decline of about 10% in smartphone shipments, attributed to heightened competition from Android manufacturers vying for the top position.
Global smartphone shipments, however, increased by 7.8% to 289.4 million units during January-March. Samsung surpassed Apple to become the leading phone maker with a 20.8% market share, following the release of its Galaxy S24 series, according to a research firm IDC.
Chinese brands like Huawei gained market share, contributing to Apple’s drop to the second spot with a 17.3% market share. Xiaomi secured the third position with a market share of 14.1%.
Samsung’s latest flagship series, the Galaxy S24, saw an 8% increase in global sales compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23, during the first three weeks of availability.
Meanwhile, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, down from 55.4 million units shipped during the same period last year. In comparison, the giant Korean tech company shipped 60.1 million units.
Apple also faced challenges in China, with a 2.1% decline in smartphone shipments in the final quarter of 2023. This decline reflects obstacles in its third-largest market, including limitations imposed by some Chinese companies and government agencies on the use of Apple devices, mirroring similar restrictions by the U.S. government on Chinese apps for security reasons, according to Reuters.
