SAN FRANCISCO, United States — In the first quarter of this year, global smartphone shipments grew by nearly 8 percent to 289.4 million units, as reported by IDC. This growth marks the third consecutive quarter of expansion in the smartphone market, indicating a recovery from a previous slump.
Samsung, based in South Korea, shipped 60.1 million smartphones during this period, capturing nearly 21 percent of the market share. Meanwhile, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, accounting for just over 17 percent of the market. Although Apple experienced a 9.6 percent decline in shipments compared to the previous quarter, Samsung’s shipments saw a marginal decrease of less than one percent.
Chinese companies like Xiaomi and Transsion also made significant strides, with Xiaomi’s shipments growing by approximately 33 percent to 40.8 million units and Transsion’s shipments increasing by about 85 percent to 28.5 million units. This placed Xiaomi in third and Transsion in fourth place in the overall smartphone market.
Ryan Reith, vice president of IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers team, noted that while Apple briefly held the top spot in 2023, Samsung has reasserted its dominance in the first quarter of this year. Reith expects Samsung and Apple to continue leading the high-end smartphone segment, while Chinese competitors focus on expanding their sales.
Nabila Popal, research director at IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, commented on the shifting dynamics among the top smartphone companies, anticipating further adjustments in strategies as the market evolves in the post-recovery period. She highlighted Xiaomi’s resurgence and Transsion’s growing presence in international markets as noteworthy trends shaping the industry.
