Apple Overtakes Samsung as World's Top Smartphone Seller in 2023

Apple has dethroned Samsung to claim the title of the world's leading smartphone seller in 2023, with a staggering 234.6 million iPhone units sold. This marks the end of Samsung's 12-year reign at the top. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Samsung shipped 226.6 million Galaxy smartphones in 2023, experiencing a 13.6% decline compared to 2022 when they shipped 262.2 million units.

Samsung's dip in smartphone sales is attributed by the IDC to heightened competition in the Android phone market. Rivals such as Xiaomi, Honor, Google, and other players have made significant inroads, especially in the budget-friendly segment. Additionally, the success of Huawei in China has impacted Samsung's global sales.

While Samsung had a challenging year overall, it managed to perform well in the high-end smartphone market, featuring products like the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Apple secured a 20% market share, slightly ahead of Samsung's 19.4%. Chinese companies Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion claimed the third, fourth, and fifth positions with market shares of 12.5%, 8.8%, and 8.1%, respectively.

Consumer smartphone upgrades slowed down in 2023 due to economic uncertainties and inflation, according to the IDC. Meanwhile, a separate report from City Index revealed that Apple became the world's largest company in 2023, with a valuation of $3.03 trillion, surpassing Microsoft's $2.52 trillion valuation.