Apple Surpasses Samsung for the First Time... Ranked No.1 in Global Smartphone Shipments Last Year

Apple Smartphone Shipments 234.6 Million Units (20.1%)

Apple surpassed Samsung Electronics to take the top spot in global smartphone shipments for the first time ever last year.

According to market research firm IDC on the 16th, Apple's annual smartphone shipments last year were recorded at 234.6 million units (20.1%). This surpassed Samsung Electronics, which remained at 226.6 million units (19.4%), securing the number one position. This is the first time Apple has taken the top spot in annual smartphone shipments. It is also the first time in 13 years since 2010 that Samsung Electronics has lost the number one position.

Industry experts analyze that Apple boosted its shipments thanks to the popularity of the iPhone 15 series released in September and October last year. On the other hand, Samsung Electronics focused on the premium smartphone market and lost market share in the low-priced model segment.

Additionally, Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi (12.5%), Oppo (8.8%), and Transsion (8.1%) ranked third to fifth in shipments last year. These companies are analyzed to have sold many mid- to low-priced models mainly in emerging markets amid a slowdown in the macroeconomy.

Last year, the total global smartphone shipments were 1.17 billion units, a 3.2% decrease from the previous year. However, the total shipments in the fourth quarter increased by 8.5% year-on-year to 326.1 million units, exceeding market expectations (7.3% increase). According to another market research firm, Canalys, this is only the seventh quarter since Q4 2021 that quarterly global smartphone shipments have recorded positive growth.

Meanwhile, the outlook for Samsung Electronics and Apple this year appears somewhat mixed. A research manager at Canalys said about Samsung Electronics, "The launch of premium products focused on on-device artificial intelligence (AI) will support a rebound as an innovation leader this year." Regarding Apple, they predicted, "Huawei's growth and intensified competition within mainland China will pose challenges to maintaining Apple's growth trajectory in this region."