Samsung has achieved a significant milestone by dethroning Apple to claim the title of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer in the first quarter of 2024, as per the latest data released by IDC, a renowned global market intelligence firm.
Despite the smartphone market witnessing a noticeable decline during the coronavirus pandemic, it has shown signs of steady recovery, with a 7.8% increase to 289.4 million units in Q1 2024.
According to IDC’s data, Samsung captured a commanding 20.8% market share, while Apple trailed behind with 17.3%, and Xiaomi secured 14.1% from new market sales.
During the same period, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, a slight decrease from the 55.4 million units shipped in Q1 of the previous year. The rivalry between Apple and Samsung for the smartphone top spot has seen fluctuations, with Apple briefly surpassing Samsung in December of the preceding year.
The dynamic nature of the smartphone market is evident, with a resurgence of Chinese brands like Huawei and Xiaomi making their presence felt. Notably, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Transsion entered the top five for the first time, displacing Vivo. While relatively obscure in Western markets, Transsion has experienced rapid growth in emerging markets, particularly Africa, where it outpaced both Samsung and Xiaomi in sales volume.
Nabila Popal, Research Director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, commented on the evolving smartphone market landscape, stating, “The smartphone market is emerging from the turbulence of the last two years both stronger and changed. Xiaomi is rebounding strongly from previous declines, while Transsion is establishing itself as a formidable contender in the Top 5, with robust growth in international markets.”
She further noted, “In contrast, although the top two players experienced negative growth in the first quarter, Samsung appears to be in a relatively stronger position overall compared to recent quarters.”
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