TOPSHOT – The Apple iPhone 15 series is on sale at The Grove Apple retail store on release day in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP) (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
apple iPhone shipments fell nearly 10% globally in the first quarter of 2024, under pressure from double-digit growth in shipments from Chinese rivals. Xiaomi A report issued by the International Data Corporation showed.
Apple shipped 50.1 million units in the first quarter, down 9.6% from 55.4 million shipments in the same period a year earlier, according to an IDC report. Among the top five smartphone brands in the report, Apple recorded the largest year-over-year decline.
Samsung regained first place in the first quarter, after losing the crown to Apple last year, with a market share of 20.8%, and shipped almost the same number of units as last year at 60.1 million. Its market share reached 22.5% in the first quarter of 2023.
Apple, which overtook Samsung as the largest smartphone maker in 2023, saw its market share fall to 17.3% from 20.7% the previous year.
“While IDC expects these two companies to maintain their top-tier market control, Huawei's resurgence in China, combined with notable gains by Xiaomi, Transsion, OPPO/OnePlus, and Vivo, will likely have OEMs looking for niche areas,” said Ryan Reith. Group Vice President, IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers: “Expansion and Diversification.”
Xiaomi's shipments rose 33.8% to 40.8 million units in the first quarter, while Transsion saw an 84.9% jump to 28.5 million units.
Shenzhen-based smartphone maker Transsion, which owns the Tecno, Itel and Infinix brands, has become the world's fifth-largest smartphone maker, according to several reports.
In terms of market share, Xiaomi (14.1%), Transsion (9.9%) and OPPO (8.7%) secured third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively, based on Q1 shipments, the IDC report revealed.
“Xiaomi is making a strong comeback from significant declines over the past two years, and Transsion has a stable presence in the top five with strong growth in international markets,” said Nabila Popal, research director on IDC's global tracking team.
However, Chinese smartphone giant OPPO's shipments fell 8.5% to 25.2 million in the first quarter.
Tech giant Huawei and its subsidiary Honor did not make the top five list. They were the best-performing smartphone brands in the first six weeks of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research.
Apple is facing pressure in China, especially from Huawei, whose consumer business has rebounded after the launch of its Mate 60 smartphone.
Globally, total smartphone shipments in the first quarter rose 7.8% year over year to 289.4 million units, marking the third consecutive quarter of shipment growth, according to IDC.
The research firm said this was a “strong indication that the recovery is well underway” despite the macroeconomic challenges.
