2023 marked a significant shift in the smartphone arena, with Apple seizing the throne for the first time ever. According to IDC, Apple’s market share soared to a record 20.1 per cent, a notable leap from the previous year’s 16.4 per cent.
Apple’s strategy to focus on premium devices has clearly paid off. With its top sellers – the iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 – the company has managed to outshine its competitors despite its steeper price tags.
Samsung, once the market leader, has slipped to second place, trailing just behind Apple with a 19.4 per cent share. Other Android bigwigs like Xiaomi and Oppo have also seen their shares dip, with Xiaomi at 12.5 per cent and Oppo at 8.8 per cent.
Not all is gloomy in the Android camp. Transsion, a brand dominant in emerging markets like Africa, has made impressive gains, growing by 30 per cent to secure an 8.1 per cent market share.
The contrasting strategies of Apple and its Android counterparts are stark. While the average selling price for Android phones hovered around $250, iPhones averaged a whopping $949. Yet, Apple’s dominance, fueled by aggressive trade-in offers and financing plans, suggests a market shift towards high-end devices.
Apple’s ascent to the top spot is not just a win; it’s a statement that quality and brand loyalty can indeed prevail in the highly competitive smartphone market.
Sources include: ArsTechnica