Samsung Overtakes Apple as Top Smartphone Vendor, iPhone Shipments Drop by Nearly 10%

In a significant shift in the global smartphone market, Samsung has dethroned Apple to emerge as the largest smartphone vendor, according to recent data from IDC. The change comes as Apple experienced a notable decline in iPhone shipments, dropping by nearly 10% in the first quarter of 2024.

During this period, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, securing a 17.3% market share, while Samsung shipped 60.1 million handsets, claiming a 20.8% market share. This reversal marks a departure from the previous quarter when Apple held the top spot, shipping 80.5 million iPhones, surpassing Samsung’s 53 million devices.

Both Apple and Samsung faced challenges as Chinese vendors, including Xiaomi and Transsion, gained momentum in the market. Samsung’s shipments dropped by 0.7% year-on-year, while Apple experienced a more significant decline of 9.6%.

Overall, the global smartphone market saw a 7.8% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2024, with total shipments reaching 289.4 million units. Transsion Holdings, which includes brands like Itel and Techno, saw an impressive 84.9% increase in shipments, while Xiaomi secured the third spot with 40.8 million units, marking a 33.8% growth year-on-year.

Looking ahead, Apple faces challenges in reversing the downtrend, with analysts suggesting that the upcoming iPhone 16 series may not be as successful due to the lack of innovative AI features. In contrast, Samsung’s success with its Galaxy S24 series, boasting a range of AI tools such as Circle to Search and Generative Photo Editing, positions the company for continued growth in the coming quarters.