Apple Poised to Reclaim Global Smartphone Shipment Leadership from Samsung
Recent projections from Counterpoint Research indicate a significant shift in the global smartphone market, with Apple anticipated to surpass Samsung in total shipments by 2025. This potential shift marks a notable development, occurring after a period of approximately fourteen years.
The forecast suggests that Apple will ship over 243 million iPhones in 2025, capturing an estimated 19.4% of the global smartphone market share. This projection contrasts with Samsung’s anticipated shipment volume of 235 million units, resulting in an estimated market share of 18.7%. Samsung currently holds the position of global market leader in smartphone shipments.
The success of Apple’s iPhone 17 series has been a key factor driving this resurgence. Shipment figures for the third quarter of the year reflect a 9% increase compared to the same period for the iPhone 16 series. Furthermore, demand for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, measured during the initial four weeks post-launch, exhibited a 12% increase year-over-year. The growth in demand within China during the same period reached 18%.
Contributing to Apple’s projected gains is the current consumer upgrade cycle. A significant portion of smartphone users who purchased devices during the COVID-19 pandemic are now approaching the point of upgrading their devices. According to the current projections, Apple is expected to maintain its position as the global smartphone shipments leader through 2029, potentially widening the gap between it and Samsung in the coming years.
Source: Counterpoint Research
