Apple Loses Top Phonemaker Spot To Samsung

Apple's smartphone shipments dropped about 10% in the first quarter of 2024, hurt by intensifying competition from Android smartphone makers aiming for the top spot, according to data from research firm IDC reported by Reuters.

Samsung, which launched its latest flagship smartphone lineup - Galaxy S24 series - at the beginning of the year, shipped more than 60 million phones during the period. I Photo: Samsung

Global smartphone shipments increased 7.8% to 289.4 million units during January-March, with Samsung capturing a 20.8% market share, clinching the top phonemaker spot from Apple.

Apple, with a market share of 17.3%, fell back to the second spot after its strong performance in the December quarter when it overtook Samsung as the world's No.1 phone maker.

Chinese brands like Huawei gained market share, pushing Apple down. Xiaomi occupied the third position with a market share of 14.1% during the first quarter.

Samsung, which launched its latest flagship smartphone lineup - Galaxy S24 series - at the beginning of the year, shipped more than 60 million phones during the period.

Meanwhile, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, down from 55.4 million units shipped in the same period last year, according to IDC. Apple's smartphone shipments in China also shrank 2.1% in the final quarter of 2023 from a year earlier.