Apple Surpasses Samsung as the World's Top Smartphone Seller in 2023

The year 2023 seemed to be a great period for Apple, as the tech giant has finally surpassed Samsung as the world’s top smartphone seller, according to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Apple’s newest achievement ends Samsung’s 12-year reign as the world’s best-selling smartphone brand, signifying a shift of power in the smartphone market. This also marks the brand’s first time leading the list, said IDC.

According to IDC’s data, Apple saw the highest number of smartphone shipments in 2023, with 234.6 shipments in millions of units. The company also had a 20.1% market share for the year, having 0.7% more market share than its competitor Samsung and a 3.7% growth from its 2022 record.

Samsung closely follows Apple at 19.4% market share, followed by Chinese tech manufacturers Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion at 12.5%, 8.8%, and 8.1% market share, respectively.

"While we saw some strong growth from low-end Android players like Transsion and Xiaomi in the second half of 2023, stemming from rapid growth in emerging markets, the biggest winner is clearly Apple,” said IDC's Worldwide Tracker research director Nabila Popal in a statement.

Apple’s achievement comes even after a 3.2% decline in smartphone shipments globally, the lowest full-year volume in a decade.

Apple launched its iPhone 15 mobile phone in September 2023 and is rumoured to release its iPhone 16 series by fall this year.