Global smartphone sales are up for the fourth quarter in a row. That includes Apple for much in between, which had its best third quarter ever.
Canalys takes a look at the global smartphone market after each quarter. After a difficult 2023, the market is smiling back at smartphone manufacturers. For the fourth quarter in a row, more units crossed the counter than a year ago, five percent more to be exact.
At the top of the list we see the expected names. Samsung tops the list with an 18 percent market share, although it now has to tolerate Apple next to it. The South Korean company gives up three percentage points compared to last year. The top five is completed by Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi, Oppo (and OnePlus) and Vivo.
Early peak
Apple’s position is curious. Apple normally peaks in the fourth quarter, when the new iPhones are freshly launched and there is a rush in stores. These figures from Canalys are based on the third quarter that ended Sept. 30. The iPhone 16 was announced on Sept. 9, and thus has not yet impacted the past quarter.
A power change seems imminent in the smartphone market, Canalys analysts also note. Demand for the iPhone 15 remained at a high level throughout the year. “Apple achieved its highest volume in the third quarter so far and has never been so close to leading the global smartphone market in a third quarter as it is now,” stresses Runar Bjørhovde, analyst at Canalys.
Every quarter, of course, is a snapshot in time. Apple claimed the lead in the last quarter of last year and has been able to defend it well this year. Next quarter we are likely to get another spike from Apple. Will Apple seize power for good then?