Apple’siPhone has achieved record-high gross sales quantity for a 3rd quarter of the yr, whereas the worldwide smartphone market continues to recuperate.
The 2 companies have been so shut that Canalys truly lists them each as having 18% market share, however says Samsung’s gross sales noticed it “narrowly defending its pole place.” Apple’s 18% is a 1% enchancment yr over yr from Q3 2023, however Samsung’s is a fall of three% in the identical interval.
Considerably, Samsung launched its newest smartphones in July, at first of the quarter. Apple’s iPhone 16 vary solely went on sale on September 13, midway by way of the final month of the quarter.
World smartphone market in Q3 2024 (Supply: Canalys)
Whereas often a brand new smartphone launch increase gross sales at launch, it is attainable that this time the scheduling labored to Apple’s benefit for an additional cause. Gross sales of the iPhone 16 vary have been lackluster, so solely having a short while on sale in Q3 could have helped.
Canalys remains to be predicting that the iPhone 16 vary will give Apple “a powerful end to 2024 and assist momentum in H1 2025,” partially due to Apple Intelligence. Nonetheless, the analysts credit score the earlier mannequin for Apple’s success in Q3.
“Apple achieved its highest third-quarter quantity up to now and has by no means been nearer to main the worldwide smartphone market in a Q3 than now,” mentioned Runar Bjorhovde, Analyst at Canalys. “The continued robust demand for the iPhone 15 sequence, together with Apple’s legacy fashions, performed an important position in its Q3 efficiency.”
“The market’s shift in direction of premium units, intersected by an ongoing refresh cycle of units purchased in the course of the pandemic, is benefiting Apple,” continued Bjorhovde, “significantly in its strong-hold areas corresponding to North America and Europe.”
Total, Canalys experiences that the worldwide smartphone market rose 5% yr over yr in Q3 2024. That makes this a fourth consecutive quarter of development.