First-ever for Apple: iPhone takes all Top 7 spots in 2023 smartphone sales: Who are the rest?،
As the new year begins, it's once again the time when reports on company performance from the previous year begin to trickle in. And this year is no exception! Counterpoint Technology Market Research, a global company known for its expertise in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors, has just released its annual list of the best-selling smartphones. Guess what ? For the first time, Apple dominated all of the top seven spots for the world's best-selling smartphones in 2023. Samsung managed to grab the remaining three positions, moving up one spot from 2022. This is a two-brand show since 2021, with no one else making the cut.
In 2022, Apple performed even stronger, with eight iPhone models in the top spots, but Samsung's Galaxy A13 slipped into fourth place. So, in 2023, Apple takes the crown for the first time with an uninterrupted run at the top of the rankings.
According to Counterpoint, the combined market share of Apple and Samsung reached an all-time high in 2023. Together, these two giants captured 20% market share, a slight increase from 19% in 2022.
Which smartphones stole the show and landed on the list?
A chart showing the 10 best-selling smartphones in 2023 (Image credit – Counterpoint Technology Market Research)
In 2023, Apple's iPhone 14 took the title of best-selling smartphone and interestingly, half of its sales came from the United States and China. This model contributed 19% of total iPhone sales for the year, a slight decline from its predecessor, the iPhone 13, which had a 28% share in 2022.
The limited differences between iPhone13 And iPhone14 resulted in less adoption of the base variant. Instead, more and more users have turned to the iPhone Pro variants, attracted by substantial upgrades like, for example, Dynamic Island, a more advanced chipset and a refresh rate of higher display.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the iPhone 15 series made a splash by occupying the top three spots on the global best-seller list, with iPhone 15 Pro Max becoming the best-selling smartphone. Despite the decline of major competitors, Apple's total sales remained stable throughout 2023.
This stability is partly attributed to the significant rise in emerging markets such as India, the Middle East and Africa. Notably, India became the fifth smartphone market to exceed 10 million iPhone units sold in a single year, underscoring its growing importance for Apple. Thanks to these factors, the iPhone15 series achieved on par with the iPhone14 series in 2022.
The faithful iPhone13, despite being the oldest on the list, retained its fourth position with solid double-digit year-over-year volume growth in Japan and India. In Japan, the strategic push of carrier promotions has given older iPhones an advantage over the new generation, while in India, the iPhone13's attractive value proposition made it a crowd pleaser.
Samsung's budget-friendly A-series made a significant impact by securing three spots in the top 10, demonstrating its strong value proposition and wide availability across various geographies and customer categories. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G stood out, taking eighth place with impressive sales in the US and India. It notably became the best-selling smartphone in India in 2023.
Topping the list, the Samsung Galaxy A04e and A14 4G, the only LTE-enabled smartphones in the lineup, secured the remaining two positions. Their affordability has played a pivotal role in driving sales growth in emerging markets such as Brazil, India, Mexico and Indonesia. It seems that Samsung's economical approach is resonating well around the world!
Counterpoint predicts that the 2024 rankings will likely highlight Chinese brands, highlighting their growing influence in the global smartphone market. Additionally, the research firm predicts that only 5G smartphones will make the top ten, reflecting the growing adoption and demand for this technology among consumers.
