Apple is no longer the leading phone manufacturer in the world, at least for now. The company has experienced a drop in shipments over the past few months, resulting in a significant drop leading to its competitor Samsung occupying the top spot.
Apple experienced a 10 percent decline in the first quarter of 2024 despite a 7.8 percent increase in global smartphone shipments, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC), which tracks mobile phone manufacturers on a quarterly basis. same time last year.
This decline is said to be due to Apple’s strong performance in the last quarter, when it overtook Samsung as the world’s top phone maker. According to the report, the iPhone maker’s decline in shipments is due to several factors. First, competition from Android mobile phone manufacturers, especially Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, which has a 14.1 percent market share, has intensified in the battle for the top spot.
Moreover, Apple is facing challenges in China, the world’s biggest smartphone market.
In China, the resurgence of Huawei, increased competition from domestic brands, and a potential government ban on foreign devices all contributed to a decline in Apple’s sales in the country.
“While Apple managed to capture the top spot at the end of 2023, Samsung successfully reasserted itself as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter,” says Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
Samsung as the world’s number one phone maker. Apple returned to second place with 17.3 percent market share as Chinese brands such as Huawei increase their market share.
One of China’s largest mobile phone manufacturers, Xiaomi, was in third place with 14.1 percent market share in the first quarter.
South Korea’s Samsung, which launched its latest flagship smartphone line, the Galaxy S24 series, shipped more than 60 million phones during the period.
Data provider Counterpoint previously said global sales of Galaxy S24 smartphones rose 8% in the first three weeks compared to last year’s Galaxy S23 series.
Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, compared with 55.4 million. during the same period last year, according to IDC.
Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 from a year earlier.
The decline underscores the challenges the US company faces in its third-largest market, as some Chinese companies and government agencies restrict employees’ use of Apple devices. The move reflects the US government’s restrictions on Chinese software due to security concerns.
Nonetheless, the Cupertino, California-based company will hold a Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June to highlight software updates for iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices.
Investors are closely watching Apple’s AI developments. It talked a bit about adding artificial intelligence technology to their devices. The company lost the world’s most valuable company crown to Microsoft earlier this year.
