Apple overtakes Samsung in global smartphone shipments across 2023

AppleInsider

Preliminary data shows Apple has overtaken Samsung with the top global smartphone shipments for 2023, plus it's the only top three company with positive growth in the year.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Samsung sells dozens of smartphones ranging from budget models to premium $2,000 foldables. This variety and price range is what has given Samsung the number one market share annually since 2010, until now.

According to data from the IDC, Apple has overtaken Samsung as the number one company based on market share of global smartphone shipments across 2023. Apple has a 20.1% market share for the year versus 19.4% for Samsung.

Among the top three -- Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi -- Apple is the only company to grow shipments year-over-year. It increased shipments from 226.3 million units to 234.6 million units.

"While we saw some strong growth from low-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, stemming from rapid growth in emerging markets, the biggest winner is clearly Apple," said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team. "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."

Diversification within Android smartphone shipments also contributed to Samsung losing the top position. Smartphone makers like Huawei, Honor, and OnePlus have competitive devices in lower price ranges.

Top 5 smartphone global shipments and market share 2023 vs 2022. Source: IDC

The smartphone market declined by 3.2% to 1.17 billion units shipped in 2023. However, growth in the second half of 2023 shows promise for a market recovery in 2024.

Apple's iPhone 15 lineup launched in September 2023, but most of the year was dominated by iPhone 14 sales. Despite taking the top spot in terms of market share in 2023, Apple's overall revenue has declined every quarter of 2023.



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9secondkox2

Wow. That’s hugely impressive. Especially considering any iPhone is a premium, high end unit. 

tech_traveller

I predict that this number will keep on growing.

Android has too much of a negative annotation at this point, to sell in the premium space.

However, if Google actually plays their cards right the Pixel should be able to keep on increasing in market share and dethrone Samsung eventually, at least in the premium space. The Pixel software is the only thing that comes close to iOS in optimisation and fluidity.

Also, the market has repeatedly shown that it cares as much about brand value as tech features. Samsung making cheap devices dilutes that brand value. Few people (unless they are tech nerds) are going to buy Samsung devices when they are able to afford premium products.

tech_traveller

One question though, can this be utilised by courts when Apple argues that they are not a monopoly?

steve_jobs

tech_traveller said:

One question though, can this be utilised by courts when Apple argues that they are not a monopoly?

If you noticed in new edition of MONOPOLY game the sewing fingertip protector is back. 

ApplePoor

Monopoly typically implies over 50% market share. So 20% is less than 50%.  The difference is that Apple gets a larger share of profits associated with the premium cellphones as they do not make the cheaper models.

danox

tech_traveller said:

One question though, can this be utilised by courts when Apple argues that they are not a monopoly?

As what? a monopoly of yourself? Android has 80% of the world market Apple however has the upper most profitable/preeminent part of the market that does not mean it has a monopoly. The EU does have a recently made up gatekeeper category for big international American tech companies. Note Apples marketshare is low in Europe, and is close/near to their worldwide marketshare percentage.

tech_traveller

danox said:

tech_traveller said:

One question though, can this be utilised by courts when Apple argues that they are not a monopoly?

As what? a monopoly of yourself? Android has 80% of the world market Apple however has the upper most profitable/preeminent part of the market that does not mean it has a monopoly. The EU does have a recently made up gatekeeper category for big international American tech companies. Note Apples marketshare is low in Europe, and is close/near to their worldwide marketshare percentage.

I merely stated that it could be a counter argument against Apple which is entirely possible.

Apple sold more devices in the premium space than Samsung which serves both Premium and midrange markets and at a variety of price points, that's a big deal.

danox

tech_traveller said:

danox said:

tech_traveller said:

One question though, can this be utilised by courts when Apple argues that they are not a monopoly?

As what? a monopoly of yourself? Android has 80% of the world market Apple however has the upper most profitable/preeminent part of the market that does not mean it has a monopoly. The EU does have a recently made up gatekeeper category for big international American tech companies. Note Apples marketshare is low in Europe, and is close/near to their worldwide marketshare percentage.

I merely stated that it could be a counter argument against Apple which is entirely possible.

Apple sold more devices in the premium space than Samsung which serves both Premium and midrange markets and at a variety of price points, that's a big deal.

Since Apple sells to the upper end of the market many think they are the market like some of German car brands or high end fashion or appliances, but they are not. They are also the last vertical computer company from the 1980's left. (in house OS and in house hardware which also throws most for a loop, many in tech still think Apple should conform to the rest of the tech world at a lower orbit). Let AMD, Intel and Nvidia be the guides.