- Samsung had a 20.8% share of global smartphone market in the first three months of 2024
- Global shipments of smartphones were 289.4 million units – up 7.8% year-on-year
- Apple’s shipments dropped by about 10% year-on-year in the first quarter to just over 50 million units
Samsung has overtaken Apple to regain its spot as the number one phone maker in the world, capturing 20.8% of the global market in the first three months of 2024, according to new figures.
Overall, shipments of smartphones increased by 7.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024 to 289.4 million units, research firm IDC reported.
Samsung’s numbers were boosted by the launch of its Galaxy S24 at the start of 2024, and it shipped more than 60 million units between January and March.
However, it wasn’t such a good quarter for Apple. The iPhone maker saw the number of its shipments drop by about 10% year-on-year to just over 50 million units. Overall, the company took a 17.3% share of the market. However, it was by far the biggest seller in its home US market.
This came after a strong end to 2023, when Apple had overtaken Samsung as the number one smartphone maker. But strong competition from rivals has eaten into Apple’s market share. Another factor was it shipped fewer units to China, its third largest market, as some Chinese agencies and businesses have restricted use of Apple devices.
This is more bad news for Apple, after the California-based company lost its title of world’s most valuable company to Microsoft earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi took third spot in the global list, with 14.1% share of the market. Another Chinese phone maker, Huawei, also grew its market share, as did Transsion, which is strong in Africa.
