Apple has dethroned Samsung as the world’s top smartphone seller, ending the latter’s 12-year dominance, according to data released by the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday. Selling 234.6 million units, Apple’s iPhone surpassed Samsung’s 226.6 million units in 2023, giving Apple a 20.1 percent market share compared to Samsung’s 19.4 percent. The IDC’s findings reflect a significant milestone for Apple, attributing its success to premium devices like the iPhone.
Market analysts point to growing fragmentation in the Android smartphone market as a key factor in Apple’s rise, highlighting the competition from low-end Samsung rivals such as Transsion, Xiaomi, Honor, and Google. Furthermore, Samsung’s sales have been impacted by Huawei’s strong performance in China.
The IDC’s data, released just ahead of Samsung’s anticipated product unveiling event in California, also revealed a global decline of 3.2 percent in smartphone shipments, totaling 1.17 billion units in 2023. Despite this decline, the IDC remains optimistic, citing growth in the second half of the year that solidifies expectations for a recovery in 2024.
In conclusion, Apple’s iPhone has cemented its position as the world’s best-selling smartphone, displacing Samsung after its 12-year reign. With a growing market share and the success of premium devices like the iPhone, Apple’s dominance marks a significant shift in the smartphone industry landscape. As competition intensifies, especially from low-end Samsung rivals and Huawei’s strong performance in China, it remains to be seen how the market will evolve in the coming years.
