In 2023, a non-Samsung company took the smartphone market lead for the first time since 2010
In 2023, Apple emerged as the leading smartphone manufacturer globally, surpassing Samsung and bringing an end to its 12-year dominance in terms of volume. Apple’s achievement was primarily driven by an increasing number of consumers opting for premium models, irrespective of cost, drawn to their durability and advanced features.
It asserted its position as the leading smartphone vendor, capturing a significant 20.1% market share in 2023, as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
On the flip side, Samsung shifted its focus in the previous year towards the mid and high-end smartphone markets, driven by the allure of higher profitability. However, this strategic move resulted in a decline in its market share within the lower-end segment.
The escalating competition from budget-friendly Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion, which have effectively dominated the majority of the African smartphone market, poses a potential challenge for Samsung in regaining its diminished market share.
Nabila Popal, the Research Director with IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team said in a statement, “While we saw some strong growth from low-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, stemming from rapid growth in emerging markets, the biggest winner is clearly Apple.”
