The global smartphone market showed signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2023, with shipments increasing by 6% year-on-year and reaching a total of 296.9 million units. This growth was mainly attributed to robust performance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Samsung overtook Apple as the top smartphone brand in the market, capturing 20% of the shipment market share, up from 17% in the previous quarter. Apple saw its share fall to 17%, with shipments declining 13% year over year. The most dynamic region was the Middle East and Africa (MEA), thanks to strong shipments from brands such as Tecno, Xiaomi and Honor.
Despite the decline in shipments, Apple led the smartphone market in terms of revenue, holding a 43% share, although its revenue fell 11% from the previous year. Samsung’s revenue in the smartphone business grew by 2%, driven by solid performances from its Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy-A series. Smartphone shipments rose to 289.4 million units, reporting a third consecutive quarter of growth according to IDC analysts.
