Major smartphone research firm says Apple could be the top smartphone manufacturer for a full year for the first time
Not all markets will be red hot during the remainder of 2023. Counterpoint says that it expects the Asian market to be one of the regions that will block growth in the smartphone industry during the rest of the year. The research firm wrote, “Asia is one of the major hurdles to positive growth, as headwinds halt the economic turnaround anticipated for China at the start of the year, and the broader region experiences intensifying declines across emerging markets.”
During the third quarter of 2011, Samsung took over leadership of the global smartphone market led by the Galaxy S II
China is still the top smartphone market in the world and while its annual smartphone purchases peaked at 450 million units, annual sales have now been in the 270 million per year area which has helped give momentum to the decline in the global smartphone market. North America had a disappointing first half according to Counterpoint with the continent set up for a double-digit full-year drop in phone shipments. “Despite strength in the jobs market and inflation falling, consumers are hesitant to upgrade their devices, pushing replacement rates for the U.S. and globally to record highs,” Counterpoint said.
Counterpoint research director Jeff Fieldhack said, “But we’re watching Q4 (fourth quarter) with interest because the iPhone 15 launch is a window for carriers to steal high-value customers. And with that big iPhone 12 installed base up for grabs promos are going to be aggressive, leaving Apple in a good spot.”
Counterpoint says the reception to the iPhone 15 will determine whether Apple tops Samsung for all of 2023
The forecast production cut doesn’t mean that Apple will now be unable to beat out Samsung for the top spot this year. Actually, Counterpoint’s Chauhan says, “The reception of the iPhone 15 and growth in non-core iPhone markets will decide if Apple surpasses Samsung at the full-year level or not.”
