The latest charts from analysts IDC Samsung regained the top spot in the global smartphone rankings for the first quarter of the year, relegating Apple to second place. Apple was domineering the graphics for a brief second. But now, Samsung is in the lead with 20.8% of global smartphone shipments for the first quarter, compared to 17.3% for Apple.
Apple’s sales have fallen almost ten percent since the start of the year. This could be due to a shaky economy and decline in iPhone sales in China. It could also be that the iPhone isn’t as exciting as Android devices and AI-enabled foldable smartphones. THE iPhone15 And iPhone 15 Pro deliver the polished Apple experience, but overall they’re missing some of that punch which smartphone users in the rest of the world seem to be drawn to.
This year Galaxy S24 series The launch included exclusive features for early buyers on behalf of Google. If you want to be among the first to try Circle to search, you can trade in your old Samsung for a new phone for immediate access. Other devices have since followed suit Galaxy AI Updatesbut early exclusivity boosted the brand.
There’s also the fact that the rest of the world isn’t binary like the North American smartphone market. There aren’t just two dominant players, but a whole array of offerings that seem like a better deal than Apple’s closed devices. The IDC list shows Xiaomia brand that is not even sold in the United States, remains in third place, followed by Transsion, which manufactures Tecno devices.
Oppothe company behind OnePlus Smartphones And smart watches, also remains in the top five. I’m curious if OnePlus’ strong releases over the past few years have helped Oppo maintain its leadership status. Oppo was one of the first foreign phone makers to adopt the foldable form factor.
Rumors are circulating that the iPhone could give more advantages to the Android platform later this year. Leaks already point to the iPhone 16 be full of Samsung flair with Cupertino’s vision on AI. And like Apple is more lenient with repairsa secondary market could bubble up to help topple some of Android’s budget pillars.
Want more consumer electronics picks from Gizmodo? Check out our guides on best phones, best laptops, best televisionsAnd best headphones. If you want to learn more about the next big thing, check out our guide to everything we know about the iPhone 16.
