Global smartphone shipments experienced a surge of nearly 8% in the first quarter of 2023, according to preliminary data from International Data Corp (IDC). This marks the third consecutive quarter of shipment growth and signifies the return of Samsung to the top position in the market.
IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker reported a total of 289.4 million units shipped during the period. Samsung emerged as the leader, shipping 60.1 million units, a slight decrease of 0.7% compared to the previous year. Apple followed closely behind with 50.1 million units shipped, representing a 9.6% decline from the previous year. Notably, Apple held the top position in the final quarter of 2023.
Xiaomi and Transsion, ranking third and fourth respectively in the smartphone market, witnessed significant growth in their market share. Xiaomi's market share jumped by an impressive 34%, while Transsion's share soared by a remarkable 85% year-over-year.
Nabila Popal, research director at IDC's Worldwide Tracker team, attributed the rise in average selling prices to consumers opting for more expensive devices due to their extended usage duration. This trend suggests a shift in consumer behavior towards retaining smartphones for longer periods.