Samsung has held the top spot among the world’s smartphone manufacturers for over a decade. After 12 years of its reign, however, the South Korean company has been knocked out of the lead by Apple.
According to data shared by the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple sold 234.6 million units in 2023, accounting for just over a fifth of the global smartphone market at 20.1%. Samsung, meanwhile, sold 226.6 million units, which equates to 19.4% of the market share.
“The last time a company not named Samsung was at the top of the smartphone market was 2010, and for 2023 it is now Apple,” IDC said. “A sort of shifting of power at the top of the largest consumer electronics market was driven by an all-time high market share for Apple and a first time at the top.”
Overall, the IDC reported that smartphone sales declined 3.2% year-to-year. It seems that Apple’s sales were boosted by the release of September’s iPhone 15. The IDC’s report pointed to a greater “increasing trend of premium devices,” as well as Apple’s interest-free financing plans and options to trade in an old iPhone for a discounted price on a newer model.
Within the Android space, Samsung also faces increased competition amid the growth of manufacturers such as OnePlus, Honor and Google.
“The overall shift in ranking at the top of the market further highlights the intensity of competition within the smartphone market,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president of the IDC’s Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. “Apple certainly played a part in Samsung’s drop in rank, but the overall Android space is diversifying within itself.”
