According to Reuters, research firm IDC revealed on Sunday that Apple’s smartphone sales declined nearly 10% in the first quarter of 2024 amid increasing competition from Android manufacturers.
Global smartphone shipments increased by 7.8% from January to March to 289.4 million units. Samsung reclaimed its position as the leading manufacturer with a 20.8% market share, surpassing Apple.
This downturn for Apple follows a successful quarter in which it briefly overtook Samsung to lead the global market. Apple now holds a 17.3% market share, ranking second as Chinese brands like Huawei continue to expand their presence.
Xiaomi, another major player from China, secured third place with a 14.1% market share in the first quarter.
Samsung shipped over 60 million phones during this period, following its latest Galaxy S24 series launch at the start of the year.
Counterpoint Research noted that within three weeks of its release, the Galaxy S24 series’ global sales surged 8% compared to the previous year’s Galaxy S23 series.
Apple’s shipments totalled 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, a drop from 55.4 million units during the same timeframe last year.
Apple’s shipments to China also fell by 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous year.
This decrease underscores the challenges Apple faces in China, its third-largest market. Some local companies and government agencies restrict employees’ use of Apple devices, mirroring U.S. government restrictions on Chinese apps over security concerns.
Apple will showcase software updates for iPhones, iPads, and other products at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
Investors closely monitor Apple’s advances in artificial intelligence, though the company has been reticent about its AI integration strategies. Earlier this year, Microsoft overtook Apple as the world’s most valuable company.
