Worldwide smartphone gross sales grew in 2024 following two consecutive years of decline in line with stories from Counterpoint, Canalys, and IDC. The bulk of the expansion got here from Chinese producers together with Xiaomi and Vivo, although Apple and Samsung are nonetheless holding sturdy because the undisputed market leaders.
Counterpoint stories a 4 p.c development in telephone gross sales throughout 2024, with IDC and Canalys every reporting 6-7 p.c will increase in international shipments, although that’s relative to a 2023 that noticed the bottom gross sales figures for a decade. That development is predicted to proceed by means of 2025.
“2024 was a yr of restoration and normalization after a tough 2023,” says Counterpoint analysis director Tarun Pathak. “The market began displaying indicators of restoration from This autumn 2023 and has now grown for 5 consecutive quarters.”
There’s a little bit disagreement about who sits on high, with Counterpoint reporting that Samsung led by market share for the yr, whereas IDC and Canalys every declare that Apple took the crown. All three agree that Xiaomi is sitting strong in third although, with a 12 p.c enhance in unit gross sales in line with Counterpoint, making it the quickest rising of the key gamers. Counterpoint pegs Xiaomi at 14 p.c market share for the yr, catching as much as Apple’s 18 p.c.
Oppo (together with OnePlus), Vivo, and the Transsion group — which incorporates manufacturers Tecno and Infinix — take up the following few spots, helped by sturdy gross sales in Asia and development throughout Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Both Counterpoint and IDC attribute a few of 2024’s comparatively bullish efficiency to the introduction of telephones positioned as AI gadgets, with AI changing foldable screens as the new new factor.
“We have seen a decreased demand for foldables available in the market, regardless of intensified promotions and advertising,” says IDC analysis director Anthony Scarsella. Manufacturers are actually “prioritizing new AI developments on the expense of foldables,” with Counterpoint predicting that by 2028 9 out of ten smartphones above $250 will embody generative AI.
