Samsung reclaims the top spot as the world’s leading seller of smartphones

Samsung reclaimed its top spot as the largest seller of smartphones, surpassing Apple, as Chinese competitors made significant gains on both market leaders, according to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday. The IDC reported that global smartphone sales grew by nearly 8% in the first quarter of the year to 289.4 million, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth in the global smartphone market and indicating a recovery from previous declines.

Samsung sold 60.1 million smartphones in the first quarter, capturing almost 21% of the market, while Apple sold 50.1 million iPhones, accounting for just over 17% of the market during the same period. Apple saw a 9.6% decline in smartphone sales compared to the previous quarter, while Samsung’s sales dropped by less than 1%.

Xiaomi, a Chinese company, ranked third in smartphone sales and experienced a 33% growth, while Transsion, in fourth place, saw an 85% increase in sales to 28.5 million units. IDC’s Vice president of Global Consumer Devices and Mobility Tracking team, Ryan Reith, noted that major smartphone companies are expected to gain market share as the recovery progresses, with smaller brands also vying for position.

Nabila Popal, research director at IDC’s Worldwide Tracker team, highlighted a shift in power among the top five smartphone companies, which is likely to continue as market players adjust their strategies in a post-recovery world. Reith mentioned that while Apple briefly held the top spot in 2023, Samsung has now reaffirmed itself as the leading smartphone supplier in the first quarter of this year.