Apple falls to third place in global smartphone sales, Xiaomi rises to take second, but will Apple fight back?

Apple falls to third place in global smartphone sales, Xiaomi rises to take second, but will Apple fight back?Apple and Samsung have long been the leaders in global smartphone market share, vying for the top spot on the sales charts in an alternating lead. However, just before the iPhone 16 launch, Xiaomi's rise caused Apple to lose its second-place position, falling to third

Apple falls to third place in global smartphone sales, Xiaomi rises to take second, but will Apple fight back?

Apple and Samsung have long been the leaders in global smartphone market share, vying for the top spot on the sales charts in an alternating lead. However, just before the iPhone 16 launch, Xiaomi's rise caused Apple to lose its second-place position, falling to third. This battle for position is not accidental; it reflects a tug-of-war of market trends and strategies.

According to a research report by Counterpoint Research, Xiaomi saw a significant increase in sales in August, while Apple experienced a decline, ultimately leading to a swap in positions. While Xiaomi's sales were flat month-over-month in August, they were enough to offset Apple's seasonal decline. Notably, this isn't the first time Xiaomi has surpassed Apple; in August 2021, Xiaomi briefly held the second spot.

Xiaomi's success can be attributed mainly to its promotion-driven market strategy in Latin America, which has helped the company achieve strong growth for several consecutive quarters. However, Apple's sales decline shouldn't be ignored, as it is influenced by seasonal factors. Since new iPhones typically launch in September, sales in August tend to decline as consumers wait for the latest models to release. This point is also acknowledged by Counterpoint, who stated that August is "typically Apple's weakest month in a given calendar year."

Despite the dip in August sales, Apple continued to see strong iPhone sales for the rest of the year. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max became the best-selling devices globally in the second quarter of 2024. With the usual sales boost Apple experiences in September and subsequent months, analysts believe Apple will quickly reclaim its second-place position.

With the launch of the iPhone 16, Apple is expected to leverage its strong brand influence and innovative technology to reclaim the top spot and engage in a historic battle with Samsung. This global smartphone market share battle will continue to unfold, but who will ultimately win? Only time will tell.