Samsung leapfrogs Apple to top smartphone market in Q1

The Korean smartphone maker shifted 60.1 million units in the first three months of 2024 to best Apple after conceding the top spot in the fourth quarter of last year.

The logo of the Samsung Electronics is seen during a media tour at the company's headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi on June 13, 2023. [AP/YONHAP]

Apple's reign in the global smartphone market was short-lived, with Samsung Electronics reclaiming the top spot during the first quarter of 2024 after yielding to the U.S. giant last year.

On the back of the high-flying, AI-loaded Galaxy S24 series, the Korean smartphone producer shipped out 60.1 million units during the first three months of this year, grabbing 20.8 percent of the global smartphone market, according to IDC data.

Apple tumbled to the second spot, selling 50.1 million units during the cited period to account for 17.3 percent of the market.

The global smartphone market grew in the first quarter of the year, shipping 289.4 million units for a 7.8 percent on-year increase.

"As expected, the smartphone recovery continues to move forward with market optimism slowly building among the top brands," said Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC's Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.

"While Apple managed to capture the top spot at the end of 2023, Samsung successfully reasserted itself as the leading smartphone provider in the first quarter."

Apple dethroned Samsung Electronics in the smartphone market in 2023 for the first time in history, sending a jolt to the Korean tech giant as it had never lost out to Apple in terms of sales volume.

In 2023, the U.S. company logged 234.6 million units shipped, while Samsung Electronics came to 226.6 million units, IDC said.

Plunging sales in China and a landmark antitrust lawsuit in the United States are believed to have factored into Apple's struggle.

Apple's iPhone sales in China plummeted by 24 percent in the first six weeks of this year from a year prior, Counterpoint data said.

Chinese brands are vying for a strong revival in the global market.

Xiaomi shipped out 40.8 million units during the January-March period, a 33.8 percent on-year jump, to come in at third.

Transsion logged a whopping 84.9 percent on-year increase in the fist quarter, selling 28.5 million units.

"While IDC expects these two companies to maintain their hold on the high end of the market, the resurgence of Huawei in China, as well as notable gains from Xiaomi, Transsion, OPPO/OnePlus and vivo will likely have both OEMs looking for areas to expand and diversify," said Reith.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]