Smartphone market recovers, Samsung regains top spot

The smartphone market exploded during the corona pandemic and then plummeted into a deep valley. Fewer and fewer smartphones were being sold. The most recent figures show that the market is on the rise again and that Samsung has regained its leading position.

We are using our smartphones for longer and longer. While we used to buy a new smartphone every two years (after all, it was ‘free’ with a subscription), we now use the same device for an average of three years. This is because we have less to spend or make different choices, smartphones are getting better and better, and the development of the models is also flattening out. In short, we can use a device for longer without it ‘not being able to keep up’ anymore. As a result, fewer devices are being sold and we are seeing a decline in a number of markets.

It’s growing

The data analysts at IDC keep track of how many smartphones are shipped. This Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker gives us an insight into the smartphone market every quarter.

And this quarter there is more good news. The market grew by 7.8 percent in the first quarter, with a total of 289.4 million smartphones shipped from factories. In addition to this increase, there were other remarkable facts.

Samsung regains top spot

With 20.8 percent, Samsung is back in first place, followed by Apple with 17.3 percent. These two rivals have been battling for first place for years and often switch places on a quarterly basis. When we compare the figures with the first quarter of 2023, they have both lost market share. Apple takes the biggest hit with a decline of more than 10 percent.

We also see that Xiaomi has found its way back up. Compared to last year, the company is seeing growth of more than 33 percent. Good figures, but no one comes close to Transsion, which markets the brands TECNO, Infinix and itel.

While the market is growing for the third quarter in a row, the smartphone market is not quite back on top yet. IDC researchers see a clear shift in the average value of a smartphone. This is rising significantly, and that is a sign that people are once again going for the more expensive models. This is probably due to the fact that people are switching models less frequently. It will also help that more and more devices, such as those from leaders Samsung and Apple, are getting software support and new updates for much longer.

Additional information:

• The smartphone market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
• 5G is expected to be a major driver of growth, as more and more consumers upgrade to 5G-enabled devices.
• Emerging markets are also expected to be a major source of growth, as smartphone penetration rates continue to rise in these countries.