iPhone 17 Could Dethrone Samsung as Top Seller This Year
▼ Summary
– Counterpoint Research predicts Apple will surpass Samsung as the world’s top phone manufacturer in 2024, with Apple shipping 243 million phones versus Samsung’s 235 million.
– Apple is projected to capture a 19.4% global smartphone market share, edging out Samsung by less than 1%.
– The iPhone 17 series achieved 12% higher sales in its first four weeks compared to the iPhone 16 lineup, partly due to lower-than-expected tariff impacts.
– This marks the first time in 14 years that Apple has led Samsung in phone shipments, according to Counterpoint’s evaluation.
– Apple plans to release a cheaper iPhone 17e model next spring and is developing its first foldable iPhone.
The global smartphone market appears poised for a significant leadership shift this year, with Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup potentially enabling the company to surpass Samsung as the world’s top phone manufacturer. According to analysis from Counterpoint Research, Apple is projected to ship approximately 243 million phones in the current year, edging out Samsung’s anticipated 235 million shipments. This would grant Apple a 19.4 percent share of the worldwide smartphone market, placing it less than one percentage point ahead of its long-standing rival.
Counterpoint’s data reveals that the recently launched iPhone 17 series achieved a notable 12 percent increase in sales during its initial four weeks compared to the performance of the previous iPhone 16 generation. Analysts attribute this stronger-than-anticipated sales performance partly to a “lower-than-expected” impact from tariffs, which helped bolster consumer demand.
While various market analysts have presented conflicting shipment leadership figures in recent years, Counterpoint’s evaluation suggests a landmark change. Should these projections hold, this would mark the first time in 14 years that Apple has overtaken Samsung in annual phone shipments. The successful performance of the iPhone 17 series seems to have outweighed other factors, including reports of a lukewarm reception for the iPhone Air and persistent questions surrounding Apple’s advancements in artificial intelligence technology.
Looking ahead, Apple’s strategy to consolidate its market position appears to involve expanding its product portfolio. The company is widely expected to introduce a more affordable “17e” model next spring. Furthermore, industry watchers anticipate the eventual launch of Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone, signaling the brand’s intent to compete in emerging form factors and sustain its market momentum.
(Source: The Verge)
