In 2023, Apple shipped the most smartphones worldwide for the first time and replaced Samsung as the largest manufacturer after twelve years. According to a report by US market researchers International Data Corp (IDC), the US group achieved a global market share of 20.1 percent in 2023, while its South Korean rival had 19.4 percent. Apple delivered 234.6 million iPhones, Samsung sold 226.6 million smartphones.
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The change at the top of the rankings follows a difficult year for smartphone producers: In a market that shrank by a good three percent overall, Apple was able to increase its sales by 3.7 percent, the IDC wrote in its report. Samsung’s sales fell 13.6 percent. According to market researchers, a total of 1.17 billion smartphones were sold around the world last year – this is the lowest value in the past ten years.
The South Korean company focused on medium to expensive products because of profitability, but lost share in the low-price segment, said Amber Liu from research firm Canalys. According to the IDC figures, the two largest Chinese smartphone providers Xiaomi and Oppo also recorded declines.
Consumers are hesitant to make new purchases
After the sharp drop in sales last year, Samsung is relying on its three new cell phones in the Galaxy series. They will be presented on January 17th.
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According to market analysis, many consumers hesitated to buy new phones last year and opted for cheaper cell phones because of high inflation and economic uncertainty. The slower-than-expected recovery of business in China, the world‘s largest smartphone market, also depressed overall sales.
Apple has been shaping the smartphone market with its iPhone series since 2007. Samsung replaced Nokia as the leader in smartphone sales in 2011 and has been the largest smartphone manufacturer year after year since then.
In 2023, Apple shipped the most smartphones worldwide for the first time and replaced Samsung as the largest manufacturer after twelve years. According to a report by US market researchers International Data Corp (IDC), the US group achieved a global market share of 20.1 percent in 2023, while its South Korean rival had 19.4 percent. Apple delivered 234.6 million iPhones, Samsung sold 226.6 million smartphones.
The change at the top of the rankings follows a difficult year for smartphone producers: In a market that shrank by a good three percent overall, Apple was able to increase its sales by 3.7 percent, the IDC wrote in its report. Samsung’s sales fell 13.6 percent. According to market researchers, a total of 1.17 billion smartphones were sold around the world last year – this is the lowest value in the past ten years.