Apple’s grip on the smartphone market loosened within the first quarter of 2024, with shipments dipping, in line with knowledge from the Worldwide Knowledge Company (IDC). The corporate shipped 50.1 million iPhones, a decline from the 55.4 million models shipped in the identical interval final yr.
This stands in distinction to the worldwide smartphone market, which skilled a resurgence with a 7.8% year-over-year improve in shipments, reaching 289.4 million models in Q1 2024.
Samsung capitalized on this development, reclaiming the highest spot in world smartphone shipments. They captured a 20.8% market share by delivery 60.1 million models in Q1 2024, pushing Apple right down to second place with a 17.3% market share.
This may very well be immediately associated to the discharge of the Galaxy S24 sequence, Samsung’s newest flagship system, in comparison with the iPhone 15’s launch again in September. Another excuse I consider this may very well be as a result of Samsung has launched many AI options to its units, and everyone knows that Apple has been lagging behind with regards to AI implementation. However there may be information that the next iPhone might have in-build AI; maybe that’s what’s stopping folks from going for the most recent iteration of iPhones. That is simply my take; the analysts’ take is subsequent.
Analysts level to 2 primary causes for Apple’s decline:
- Intensifying competitors from Chinese language smartphone producers and
- Ongoing challenges within the Chinese language market, Apple’s third-largest.
Xiaomi noticed spectacular development of 33.8% year-over-year, which reveals the growing power of Chinese language opponents.
Some Chinese language firms and authorities companies, mirroring US restrictions on Chinese language apps as a result of safety issues, have limited employee use of Apple devices. This development is proven in Apple’s iPhone shipments in China, which shrunk 2.1% within the closing quarter of 2023 in comparison with the earlier yr.
Whereas different tech giants are actively incorporating AI expertise into their merchandise, Apple has remained comparatively quiet on the topic. The Worldwide Builders Convention in June may supply helpful insights into Apple’s plans for AI integration and its technique to keep up its place within the more and more aggressive smartphone market.
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