U.S. tech giant Apple is gaining ground on long-standing smartphone market leader, South Korea’s Samsung, as per industry experts’ latest assessments.
In the most recent quarter, it was reported that Samsung managed to sell 59.6 million smartphones, closely followed by Apple, which recorded 53.6 million iPhone sales, according to analysis conducted by a leading firm.
This development has resulted in a shift in market shares, with Samsung and Apple now holding 19.7% and 17.7% of the market, respectively. This marks a significant shift from the previous quarter when Samsung held a lead of around four percentage points, as indicated by the firm’s calculations.
The key factor influencing this change in the last quarter is the fact that Samsung’s device sales decreased by 8.4% year-on-year. In contrast, Apple experienced a 2.5% increase in iPhone sales compared to the same period the previous year.
Historically, Apple has consistently claimed the top position in the market during the final quarter of the year, typically following the unveiling of new iPhone models. However, Samsung has traditionally maintained an annual lead over Apple.
Securing the third position in this competition is the Chinese manufacturer, Xiaomi, who saw a 2.4% increase in smartphone sales during the last quarter. Xiaomi now holds a 13.7% market share, according to the firm’s statistics.
One of the standout performers in the smartphone market this year is the Chinese company Transsion, which had primarily focused on the African market until now. During the last quarter, Transsion recorded a remarkable 35% increase in smartphone sales compared to the previous year. With 26 million devices sold and an 8.6% market share, Transsion is now in close competition with its better-known competitor, Oppo.
