First Time Since 2010: Apple Overtakes Samsung as Leading Smartphone Manufacturer

A major shift in the market has occurred in 2023, with the iPhone from Apple Inc. surpassing handsets from Samsung Electronics Co. to become the best-selling smartphone series.

For the first time since 2010, Samsung has relinquished control of the smartphone market leader.

Apple vs samsung

Apple vs samsung

At the World’s Head

The iPhone captured a significant 20% of the worldwide market in the previous year, with roughly 235 million shipments, according to research firm IDC.

Even though shipments dropped by double digits to 226.6 million, Samsung nevertheless managed to come in second place, beating off Chinese rivals like Xiaomi Corp.

The Cupertino-based company’s tenacity in the face of an industry-wide slump is demonstrated by its unprecedented one-year domination over Samsung.

While the holiday quarter is when Apple usually shines, the company’s consistent performance all year long shows that it can handle market storms better than competitors.

High-End Device Approach

Aggressive promotions enticed customers towards high-end smartphones, which contributed to Apple’s success.

Apple increased shipments in 2023 despite the iPhone 15’s lackluster reception in China, rising Huawei competition, and regulatory hurdles.

Trends and Dynamics in the Market

The smartphone industry had significant growth in the second half of 2023 from low-end Android players in emerging areas, but Apple came out on top.

The rising demand for high-end devices—which currently account for more than 20% of the market—is directly related to Apple’s sustained success.

Difficulties and Overcoming Them

The rise of Huawei and government regulations in China, Apple’s biggest overseas market, made it difficult for the company to sell iPhones.

Remarkably, Apple has been able to persevere in the face of mounting regulatory hurdles and competition from Huawei in China.

Attractive trade-in offers and interest-free financing drove the shift towards premium smartphones, with Apple being the only member of the worldwide top three to experience growth, albeit at a slower 3.7%.

While the industry as a whole is in a downturn, Apple stands out for its growth-driving capabilities in a difficult environment.


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