Fayez Hoda, Pune
The global smartphone market now sees Apple as the dominant player, overtaking Samsung from its pinnacle after a continuous 12-year tenure. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) data, the American tech giant claimed over 20% of last year’s shipped phones. In contrast, Samsung secured a 19.4% market share, trailed by Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion.
The decline in smartphone sales is a consequence of pandemic-related upgrades. It is evident in the IDC’s report, which indicates a drop of over 3% from the previous year, totaling nearly 1.2 billion units—the lowest in a decade. Economic challenges and high-interest rates led many consumers to tighten their budgets, but industry experts anticipate a recovery in the market this year.
Despite facing increased regulatory challenges and resurging competition from Huawei in its largest market, China, Apple emerged as the standout performer, selling over 234 million phones last year. Nabila Popal from the IDC noted, “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.”
Huawei, banned from purchasing US technology-made chips due to national security concerns, has made significant progress in developing its own chips. Meanwhile, Apple’s strategies, including trade-in offers for old models and interest-free financing plans, are driving demand for premium devices.
This shift represents a setback for Samsung, which previously held the top spot as the world’s leading producer of memory chips, smartphones, and televisions. The company recently warned of lower-than-expected profits due to weak global demand for consumer electronics. Samsung faces stiff competition from more affordable Android models, particularly from Transsion and Xiaomi, gaining popularity among price-conscious consumers in emerging markets.