Smartphone Market Rebounds! Samsung Holds Top Spot, Apple Makes a Strong Comeback

Smartphone Market Rebounds! Samsung Holds Top Spot, Apple Makes a Strong ComebackAccording to a new report from research firm Counterpoint Research, global smartphone sales grew by 2% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024. This marks the first time since the third quarter of 2018 that the market has experienced a year-on-year positive growth

Smartphone Market Rebounds! Samsung Holds Top Spot, Apple Makes a Strong Comeback

According to a new report from research firm Counterpoint Research, global smartphone sales grew by 2% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024. This marks the first time since the third quarter of 2018 that the market has experienced a year-on-year positive growth. This data indicates that the global smartphone market is gradually recovering, with overall conditions significantly better than last year.

Specifically, Samsung remains firmly in the top spot with a 19% market share. The stellar performance of its Galaxy A series and Galaxy S24 series significantly boosted its market share. Apple closely followed, surging to the top of global sales in September thanks to the strong launch of the iPhone 16 series, achieving a 1% year-on-year growth and a market share of 16%. Several institutions predict that Apple's continued expansion of Apple Intelligence to more markets and languages will help the company maintain strong growth in 2024, carrying this momentum into the first half of 2025. Rumours suggest Apple Intelligence is set to officially roll out at the end of the month. The gradual rollout of this feature is expected to push Apple ahead of Samsung in the next two quarters, making it the global leader.

Compared to the two international giants, Chinese brands Xiaomi and vivo have demonstrated even stronger performance, with sales increasing by 8% and 10%, respectively. Their market shares reached 14% and 9%, respectively. OPPO, another brand within the top five, also achieved its best sales since the third quarter of 2023.

Overall, the global smartphone market displayed positive signs of recovery in the third quarter of 2024. Samsung and Apple continue to dominate the market, while Chinese brands like Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO exhibit robust growth. Looking ahead, the smartphone market is poised to remain active, with intense competition among brands fueled by the continuous emergence of new technologies and evolving consumer demands.