Samsung overtakes Apple as top global smartphone seller

Samsung has dethroned Apple as the world’s largest smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from research firm IDC.

Global smartphone shipments grew 7.8% year-on-year to 289.4 million units during the period from January to March of this year, as reported by Forbes. Samsung secured the top spot with a market share of nearly 21%, followed by Apple, and then the Chinese company Xiaomi in third place.

Apple’s sales declined by around 10% in the first quarter to 50.1 million iPhone units compared to 55.4 million iPhone units during the same period last year. This comes after Apple’s strong performance in the fiscal quarter ending in December when it surpassed its Korean rival and claimed the global top spot.

“The smartphone market is emerging from the disruptions of the past two years stronger than ever,” said Nabila Popal, research director at IDC. “While the two largest companies have seen their sales decline, Samsung appears to be in a stronger position than it has been in recent quarters.”