Apple overtakes Samsung for the first time in global smartphone shipments – the iPhone

Although IDC indicates that its numbers are preliminary and subject to change, the second research organization (Canalys) also places Apple at the top for 2023.

Specifically, IDC estimates Apple's total mobile phone sales at 234.6 million versus Samsung's 226.6 million. Xiaomi, Oppo and Transsion follow with sales of 145.9 million, 103.1 million and 94.9 million smartphones, respectively.

IDC notes that the last time Samsung wasn't at the top was 13 years ago, in 2010. At that time, Apple wasn't even in the top five, with Nokia in first place, Samsung in second place, and LG In third place, ZTE in fourth place, and fifth in first place. The manufacturer of BlackBerry devices is RIM.

As Nabila Popal, research director at IDC, said: “Apple is the only company in the top three with positive year-over-year growth, winning the top spot for the first time, driven by growing demand for premium devices.”

While total smartphone sales fell by 3.2% in 2023, there are signs of the market recovering. According to IDC, sales rose 8.5% year over year in the fourth quarter.