Samsung vs Apple: Q1 Sales

Apple handed the trophy to Samsung and lost the sales game in Q1 of 2024. There are multiple reasons behind this report. Apple is not introducing any new technology and Samsung has attracted consumers by introducing AI in their products; the S24 Ultra was the game-changer for Samsung.

China is also one of the main reasons behind Apple’s current situation. The limited use of Apple products by employees and the boom in the sale numbers of Chinese brands, Xiaomi and Huawei, but several reports indicate that these two brands will hold the top rank in the smartphone market.

Samsung shipped 60.1 million units, which is 10 million more than Apple’s 50.1 million shipments in Q1. Apple’s total shipments dropped by 10% compared to last year’s 55.4 million shipments. 

According to IDC reports, Samsung has secured a 20.8% market share, thanks to the massive sale of the S24 series, while Apple has secured a 17.3% market share in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

In third place is Xiaomi, which captured a 14.3% market share with 40 million units. During that period, a Chinese brand, Transsion, witnessed the fastest growth by 84.5%. The brand bagged 28.5% of shipments with around 10% market share.

Ryan Reith is the Program Vice President for IDC's Mobile Device Tracker suite and he stated,
“While IDC expects these two companies to maintain their hold on the high end of the market, the resurgence of Huawei in China, as well as notable gains from Xiaomi, Transsion, OPPO/OnePlus, and vivo will likely have both OEMs looking for areas to expand and diversify. As the recovery progresses, we're likely to see the top companies gain share as the smaller brands struggle for positioning.” 

China is the major smartphone market and it plays an important role. In the past, the US government imposed a ban on several Chinese brands and software, as a result, the Chinese government essentially boycotted Apple products by limiting the use of iPhones, but we can’t blame only one aspect.

Apple needed to catch up in the house of AI and the brand could not introduce innovative products. Brands like Techno and Xiaomi have also launched Flip or Fold devices.

The decline in the growth of iPhones at a global level may create challenges for Apple but it is good news that iPhone 15 Pro is recording more sales, resulting in higher revenue.