Apple claimed a 17.7 percent share of the market in the third quarter of 2023, an increase from the previous quarter. Apple's long time competitor, Samsung, ranked first with a market share of 19.7 percent.
Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the smartphone market
Apple has been amongst the top five smartphone vendors in the world since 2009. With the decline of former market leaders Nokia and RIM, Apple and Samsung were able to grow their presence in the market. As a result of political pressure, tariffs and restrictions imposed by the U.S, Chinese manufacturer Huawei has recently dropped off of the top five list in the smartphone market, while Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion have gained ground.
Coronavirus (COVD-19) pandemic impact on iPhone sales
While the long-term impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on sale is difficult to determine, the immediate impact was quickly visible. While large quarterly fluctuations are normal for Apple’s revenue cycle, one must look back to 2017 to find two consecutive quarters in which Apple generated less than 30 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from the iPhone.
A less strong performance in the third quarter of 2023, lead by the iPhone 15, gave Apple the second spot in terms of quarterly global unit shipments after Samsung, although strong sales in the fourth quarter of every year is a common occurrence with Apple products.
