Apple's iPhone breaks sales record as smartphone market recovers

AppleInsider

Apple'siPhone has achieved record-high sales volume for a third quarter of the year, while the global smartphone market continues to recover.

iPhone 16 Pro models

The third quarter of 2023 was dismal for the Mac, but new figures from Canalys show that the iPhone had record sales that were only fractionally beaten by Samsung.

The two firms were so close that Canalys actually lists them both as having 18% market share, but says Samsung's sales saw it "narrowly defending its pole position." Apple's 18% is a 1% improvement year over year from Q3 2023, but Samsung's is a fall of 3% in the same period.

Significantly, Samsung launched its latest smartphones in July, at the start of the quarter. Apple's iPhone 16 range only went on sale on September 13, halfway through the last month of the quarter.

Global smartphone market in Q3 2024 (Source: Canalys)

While usually a new smartphone release boost sales at launch, it's possible that this time the scheduling worked to Apple's advantage for another reason. Sales of the iPhone 16 range have been lackluster, so only having a short time on sale in Q3 may have helped.

Canalys is still predicting that the iPhone 16 range will give Apple "a strong finish to 2024 and help momentum in H1 2025," in part because of Apple Intelligence. Nonetheless, the analysts credit the previous model for Apple's success in Q3.

"Apple achieved its highest third-quarter volume to date and has never been closer to leading the global smartphone market in a Q3 than now," said Runar Bjorhovde, Analyst at Canalys. "The ongoing strong demand for the iPhone 15 series, along with Apple's legacy models, played a crucial role in its Q3 performance."

"The market's shift towards premium devices, intersected by an ongoing refresh cycle of devices bought during the pandemic, is benefiting Apple," continued Bjorhovde, "particularly in its strong-hold regions such as North America and Europe."

Overall, Canalys reports that the global smartphone market rose 5% year over year in Q3 2024. That makes this a fourth consecutive quarter of growth.

Canalys also believes that buyers have been postponing upgrades in the expectation of deals in Black Friday, or China's 11.11 day.



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ssfe11

As the smartphone becomes more and more essential to your life and all your data is on it how could you possibly trust anything but the Apple Walled Garden? Forget how much better it works then every other smartphone and just focus on the privacy and security alone it provides. No one comes close. In the mobile world it’s Apple then everyone else. 

edited October 2024

mike1

The third quarter of 2023 was dismal for the Mac, but new figures from Canalys show that the iPhone had record sales that were only fractionally beaten by Samsung.

I think you mean Q3 2024

get serious

Apple's 4th quarter ended on Sept 29th just over two weeks before the end of their financial quarter. I guess Canalys may use different quarters, probably like Loonies and Toonies same general shape just different. 

edited October 2024

jellybelly

get serious said:

Apple's 4th quarter ended on Sept 29th just over two weeks before the end of their financial quarter. I guess Canalys may use different quarters, probably like Loonies and Toonies same general shape just different. 

Its commonly accepted practice to state fiscal quarter as in AAPL’s case that occurs June through September as Q4, but to say Q3 2024 if your refer to the calendar quarter in which it occurs. It’s confusing, so I prefer Q3 C2024 or Cal Q3 2024.   I think I’ve seen it that way.  IIRC
There are enough companies not in sync with calendar quarters that a notation is needed if referring to calendar quarter.  

I think companies might do this so they have time for tax prep for end of fiscal year.  Someone correct me if I’m wrong.  

danox

Two weeks ago it was the end of the world for Apple week or two later its record sales? The beat goes on…..

edited October 2024

discountopinion

The Canalys analysis is just odd.

Apple taking market share in the quarter that has their new models being released is great. 

I doubt the 16 sales were lack lustre. It seems more to me that the Apple customer base upgrades/buys whenever they need the phone and may be less focused on waiting for the next version. This is a very good thing for Apple.

alex_v

ssfe11 said:

As the smartphone becomes more and more essential to your life and all your data is on it how could you possibly trust anything but the Apple Walled Garden? Forget how much better it works then every other smartphone and just focus on the privacy and security alone it provides. No one comes close. In the mobile world it’s Apple then everyone else. 

Well said. In addition to that, most Android users don't realise that they have unwittingly volunteered for a massive corporate surveillance programme, unprecedented in human history. Not even the East German Stasi knew as much about their citizens as Google knows about their users. And Google exploits that information for profit. Only the EU seems to have attempted to do anything to rein in the out-of-control tech bros. 

edited October 2024

avon b7

ssfe11 said:

As the smartphone becomes more and more essential to your life and all your data is on it how could you possibly trust anything but the Apple Walled Garden? Forget how much better it works then every other smartphone and just focus on the privacy and security alone it provides. No one comes close. In the mobile world it’s Apple then everyone else. 

'Android' provides an equally trustworthy scenario and possibly more protection in some cases. 

The difference is that there isn't just one Android so an iOS/Android comparison is not easy.

Both Google and the provider of my particular version of Android provide reminders of permissions situations that seem unnecessary so that I can check them. Permissions that I initially granted. 

I have never had a known instance of malware or virus and the device is regularly scanned by the system for rogue activity. 

All app stores are regularly purged of such apps because it's impossible to stop some getting through. That includes the Apple App Store. 

And I would dispute the claim that iOS works much better than alternatives. After all, Apple has spent the last few years implementing Android features. 

alex_v

avon b7 said:

'Android' provides an equally trustworthy scenario and possibly more protection in some cases. 
The difference is that there isn't just one Android so an iOS/Android comparison is not easy.
Both Google and the provider of my particular version of Android provide reminders of permissions situations that seem unnecessary so that I can check them. Permissions that I initially granted. 
I have never had a known instance of malware or virus and the device is regularly scanned by the system for rogue activity. 
All app stores are regularly purged of such apps because it's impossible to stop some getting through. That includes the Apple App Store. 
And I would dispute the claim that iOS works much better than alternatives. After all, Apple has spent the last few years implementing Android features. 

Fair enough, but you make no mention of the fact that your phone has Google spyware installed, it's called Android. So, whatever the benefits of the Android OS that was provided and installed on your phone for free, the downside is that you must submit to that company's all-encompassing surveillance. I see a lot of comments that try to equate Android and iOS. That is a simple fallacy. Apple has a completely different business model to Google. 

danox

Alex_V said:

avon b7 said:

'Android' provides an equally trustworthy scenario and possibly more protection in some cases. 
The difference is that there isn't just one Android so an iOS/Android comparison is not easy.
Both Google and the provider of my particular version of Android provide reminders of permissions situations that seem unnecessary so that I can check them. Permissions that I initially granted. 
I have never had a known instance of malware or virus and the device is regularly scanned by the system for rogue activity. 
All app stores are regularly purged of such apps because it's impossible to stop some getting through. That includes the Apple App Store. 
And I would dispute the claim that iOS works much better than alternatives. After all, Apple has spent the last few years implementing Android features. 

Fair enough, but you make no mention of the fact that your phone has Google spyware installed, it's called Android. So, whatever the benefits of the Android OS that was provided and installed on your phone for free, the downside is that you must submit to that company's all-encompassing surveillance. I see a lot of comments that try to equate Android and iOS. That is a simple fallacy. Apple has a completely different business model to Google. 

The business model of Google and Meta says it all the end user is the product… For sale to the highest bidder for anyone to suggest otherwise is just false equivalency. You hit the nail on the head.

edited October 2024

bart y

jellybelly said:

get serious said:

Apple's 4th quarter ended on Sept 29th just over two weeks before the end of their financial quarter. I guess Canalys may use different quarters, probably like Loonies and Toonies same general shape just different. 

Its commonly accepted practice to state fiscal quarter as in AAPL’s case that occurs June through September as Q4, but to say Q3 2024 if your refer to the calendar quarter in which it occurs. It’s confusing, so I prefer Q3 C2024 or Cal Q3 2024.   I think I’ve seen it that way.  IIRC
There are enough companies not in sync with calendar quarters that a notation is needed if referring to calendar quarter.  

I think companies might do this so they have time for tax prep for end of fiscal year.  Someone correct me if I’m wrong.  

You are correct.  I prefer FY24Q4 or Q4FY25 for Apple’s fiscal quarters and CY24Q3 or Q3CY24 as shorthand for typically reported quarterly information for general news consumption, the calendar year is easier for most people who are not direct shareholders or investors to understand.

Company investors will be familiar with their company’s fiscal calendar and make the translation in their head.  But yes, it is confusing, especially if you want to make annual or quarterly comparisons and make it clear for others.

edited October 2024