In a landmark development, Apple has surpassed Samsung in smartphone shipments for the first time in a year, according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. While IDC cautions that its data is preliminary, Canalys also confirms Apple’s top position for the entirety of 2023. IDC’s data shows Apple’s total mobile shipments at 234.6 million, outpacing Samsung’s 226.6 million. Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion complete the top five with 145.9 million, 103.1 million, and 94.9 million smartphones shipped, respectively.
Notably, IDC points out that the last time Samsung did not lead the annual board was 13 years ago in 2010, with Nokia, Samsung, LG Electronics, ZTE, and Research in Motion (manufacturers of BlackBerry devices) comprising the top five. This stark contrast illustrates the significant shifts in the smartphone industry over the past decade.
IDC’s research director, Nabila Popal, remarked, “Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also [it] bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever.” Popal attributes Apple’s ongoing success and resilience to the rising trend of premium devices, constituting over 20% of the market, driven by compelling trade-in offers and interest-free financing plans.
While Apple played a pivotal role in displacing Samsung from the top spot, it faced fierce competition from other Android manufacturers like Huawei, OnePlus, Honor, and Google. Canalys suggests that Huawei’s “improving strength” could pose a challenge to Apple’s growth in the Chinese market. Reports surfaced last year indicating that Huawei, despite US sanctions, successfully integrated an advanced 7nm processor into its Mate 60 Pro smartphone, capable of 5G speeds.
Despite an overall 3.2 percent decline in smartphone shipments in 2023 compared to 2022, there are indications of a potential market recovery. IDC reports an 8.5 percent year-on-year growth in shipments in the fourth quarter, while Canalys observes an 8 percent growth after seven consecutive quarters of decline.
