Apple has become the world’s top smartphone vendor in 2023

Apple overtook Samsung as the world’s top smartphone vendor in the fourth quarter, taking 24% of total shipments, according to research firm Canalys. Cupertino also ended the year as the top vendor, surpassing Samsung on a year-over-year basis for the first time. Smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2023 reached 320 million units, up 8 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2022.

Smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2023 are expected to reach 320 million units, up 8 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2022.

The fourth quarter of 2023 was also the first quarter with positive growth after seven consecutive quarters of decline. Canalys estimates that 1.1 billion smartphones will ship in 2023. Apple led the way with 24% of all shipments in the fourth quarter of 2023 thanks to strong demand for the iPhone 15. Samsung was second with 17% of the market but lost share in the budget segment. Xiaomi (13%) took third place, while Transsion (9%) continued its growth and ended the quarter as the fourth leading smartphone vendor. Vivo (7%) rounded out the top five.

And Vivo (7%) rounded out the top five.

Canalys analysts suggest that the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America markets contributed to the recovery in demand. Low-end and mid-range devices in particular have been key drivers of growth. Looking to the future, Canalys expects artificial intelligence on the device to become a major focus in high-end devices released in 2024.

Artificial intelligence on the device is expected to become a major trend in high-end devices released in 2024.