IDC: iPhone shipments decline, Samsung replaces Apple as the largest mobile phone manufacturer

Apple’s smartphone shipments fell about 10% in the first quarter of 2024 as competition intensifies among Android smartphone makers for the No. 1 spot, data from research firm IDC showed on Sunday.

From January to March, global smartphone shipments increased by 7.8% to 289.4 million units, of which Samsung replaced Apple as the largest mobile phone manufacturer with a market share of 20.8%.

The iPhone maker’s sales fell sharply after a strong December quarter that saw it overtake Samsung as the world’s No. 1 handset maker. It returned to second place with 17.3% market share as Chinese brands such as Huawei gained market share.

Xiaomi is one of China’s largest smartphone manufacturers, occupying third place with a 14.1% market share in the first quarter.

South Korea’s Samsung launched its latest flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S24 series, at the beginning of this year. During the period, mobile phone shipments exceeded 60 million units.

Data provider Counterpoint previously said that global sales of Galaxy S24 smartphones increased by 8% compared with the first three weeks of last year’s Galaxy S23 series.

IDC data shows that Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, down from 55.4 million in the same period last year.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell by 2.1% year-on-year.

The decline highlights the challenges the U.S. company faces in its third-largest market as some Chinese companies and government agencies restrict employee use of Apple devices, a measure that mirrors U.S. government restrictions on Chinese apps for security reasons.

The Cupertino, California-based company will host its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, which will highlight software updates for iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices.

Investors are paying close attention to the latest developments in Apple’s artificial intelligence development, and the company has so far said little about integrating artificial intelligence technology into its devices. Earlier this year, the company ceded its crown as the world’s most valuable company to Microsoft.

© Thomson Reuters 2024