Samsung overtakes Apple as the world’s leading phonemaker as iPhone shipments decline

In the first quarter of 2024, Apple’s smartphone shipments decreased by around 10% as a result of fiercer competition from Android smartphone manufacturers vying for the top place.

Between January and March, shipments of smartphones worldwide rose 7.8% to 289.4 million devices, with Samsung overtaking Apple as the leading phonemaker with a 20.8% market share.

The sharp drop in sales for the iPhone manufacturer follows a stellar quarter in which it surpassed Samsung to become the world’s top phone manufacturer. With a 17.3% market share, it has returned to the second position as Chinese companies like Huawei increase their market share.

One of the leading smartphone manufacturers in China, Xiaomi, came in third place in the first quarter with a 14.1% market share.

IDC reports that Apple delivered 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, compared to 55.4 million handsets during the same period last year.

In comparison to a year earlier, Apple’s smartphone shipments to China decreased 2.1% in the last quarter of 2023.

The decline highlights the difficulties the American company has in its third-largest market, where several Chinese businesses and government organizations ban staff access to Apple devices. This practice is similar to American government prohibitions on Chinese software due to security concerns.

The Cupertino, California-based corporation will showcase upgrades to the software that powers iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

Investors are keeping a tight eye on Apple’s artificial intelligence research efforts, as the company has not disclosed many details about how it plans to integrate AI technology into its products. Earlier this year, Microsoft overtook the corporation to become the most valuable company in the world.