Our daily lives have become heavily reliant on smartphones, serving as our go-to devices for communication, entertainment, and information retrieval.
Recent data analyzed by the Atlas VPN team reveals that in the first months of 2023, Apple surpassed Samsung as the most popular smartphone brand. This shift marks a significant change in the global smartphone market, where Samsung has held the dominant position for a prolonged period.
The question remains whether this shift represents a larger trend or merely a short-term fluctuation.
Samsung earned the highest market share of all smartphones in 2022.
Apple briefly overtook Samsung’s market share by 0.2% in October, but Samsung quickly regained its position at the top the following month, holding 28.33% of the market share. In November and December, Apple’s market share remained slightly behind, with 27.48% and 26.98%, respectively.
However, at the start of 2023, iPhones became the leading smartphone for two consecutive months. In January, Apple held 27.6% of the market share, while Samsung’s share was 27.09%. The next month, both companies experienced a slight drop in their shares, with Apple’s share decreasing to 27.1% and Samsung’s to 26.75%.
At present, there are approximately 6.84 billion smartphone users worldwide. Of this figure, an estimated 1.85 billion users have opted for iPhones, while 1.82 billion have chosen Samsung. However, it’s worth noting that these numbers are approximate as some individuals may own multiple devices from both brands.
As of February, Xiaomi held a 12.29% share of the market, while Oppo had a 6.86% share. On the other hand, Huawei’s smartphones have experienced a decline in market share over the past six months, dropping to 4.84% last month.
Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on Apple overtaking Samsung as the most popular smartphone:
“While it is impossible to predict the future with certainty, Apple’s success will likely continue due to its strong brand image, customer loyalty, and effective marketing. While Samsung is undoubtedly a formidable rival, it will need to innovate and differentiate itself to catch up to Apple.”
The recent change in smartphone market share has triggered discussions among industry specialists and consumers. Some believe that Apple’s current lead is a temporary development, while others consider it a lasting trend. While the future cannot be accurately predicted, Apple’s accomplishments are expected to persist, given its robust brand identity, customer allegiance, and efficient marketing strategies. Although Samsung is undoubtedly a strong competitor, it will have to innovate and distinguish itself to close the gap with Apple.
Read more here.
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