Apple beats Samsung for the first time in global smartphone shipments

Apple managed to outshine Samsung for the first time in history, becoming the top smartphone vendor for the year, as reported by IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. However, it’s worth noting that IDC warns that the data is preliminary and might be subject to changes. Another research agency also supports these findings.

Canalys also confirms that Apple secured the top position for the entire year of 2023. According to IDC, Apple shipped a total of 234.6 million mobile devices, surpassing Samsung’s 226.6 million. The rest of the top five includes Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion, with 145.9 million, 103.1 million, and 94.9 million smartphones shipped, in that order.

IDC points out that Samsung hasn’t been off the annual throne for 13 years, since 2010. Back in those days, Apple wasn’t even in the top five. The rankings were led by Nokia, followed by Samsung, LG Electronics, ZTE, and Research in Motion (makers of BlackBerry devices). This lineup serves as solid proof that a lot can change in the smartphone industry over a span of 13 years.

“Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever,” said IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team research director Nabila Popal. “Apple’s ongoing success and resilience is in large part due to the increasing trend of premium devices, which now represent over 20% of the market, fueled by aggressive trade-in offers and interest-free financing plans.”

While IDC acknowledges Apple’s significant role in dethroning Samsung, it also highlights the fierce competition from other Android players such as Huawei, OnePlus, Honor, and Google. It’s not just Samsung facing the heat from these competitors. Canalys points out that Huawei’s growing influence could pose a challenge to Apple’s expansion in the Chinese market.

Reports surfaced last year that Huawei successfully navigated through US sanctions, incorporating an advanced 7nm processor from Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) into its Mate 60 Pro smartphone, enabling 5G speeds.

Even though the total smartphone shipments dropped by 3.2 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, there are indications that the market could be bouncing back from its recent downturn. According to IDC, shipments saw an 8.5 percent year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter. Canalys also reports an 8 percent growth, marking a positive shift after seven consecutive quarters of decline.