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Do you remember when Huawei was on track to dominate the global top 10 best-selling smartphones market? Or the brief moment when Xiaomi surpassed Apple to claim the second spot in worldwide handset sales? It’s even stranger to recall an era when Nokia, Motorola, and BlackBerry were the leading names in mobile devices globally.
However, a new report from Counterpoint Research has shifted the spotlight solely onto Samsung and Apple, completely bypassing brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, Nokia, Motorola, BlackBerry, and even emerging players like Oppo, Vivo, and Realme.
The focus is on Apple and Samsung, who have taken all the slots in the top 10 best-selling smartphones for Q2 2023. While this might not come as a complete surprise, it’s still an impressive feat and not something we see often.
Four Outshines Six
Contrary to common arithmetic beliefs, the recent data reveals that Apple’s performance outshines Samsung’s by a considerable margin. According to Counterpoint’s latest “global handset model sales tracker,” iPhones occupy the first four positions on the list. The iPhone 14 is the top seller, followed by the 14 Pro Max, 14 Pro, and iPhone 13, in that order. Samsung’s devices fill the remaining slots from fifth to tenth, featuring models like the Galaxy A14, A54, A14 5G, S23 Ultra, A04e, and A34.
It’s fairly common to see Apple’s focus on quality overshadow Samsung’s emphasis on offering a wide range of models, and this has happened frequently in the past. However, it’s quite rare to see a list dominated by four different iPhone models, with no interruptions from budget-friendly brands like Redmi, and then followed by six Galaxy phones.
For example, in the second quarter of 2022, Samsung did secure a position just behind the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max with its budget-friendly Galaxy A13. Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 11 LTE rounded out the top 10, preventing a complete industry domination by Apple and Samsung.
At the close of 2021, the tech landscape showed a varied picture: two different Redmi models had spots in the global top ten, while Samsung had just one and Apple dominated with seven entries.
iPhone 14 Outperforms S23 Series
What stands out in the Q2 2023 rankings is that the top four devices remain unchanged from the Q1 2023 list. However, things start to look different from the fifth position onward.
Surprisingly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, released earlier in the year, fell from sixth to eighth place between April and June. Its less powerful siblings are conspicuously missing from the list, faring worse in terms of sales volume than even the relatively obscure Galaxy A04e.
It’s quite clear that Samsung is struggling to gain traction with its high-end smartphones, particularly outside North America and Western Europe, which seem to account for most of the S23 Ultra sales.
Equally noticeable is the fact that Samsung’s mid-tier Galaxy A-series, while performing well in regions like Asia and Latin America, hasn’t been able to fully compensate for the weaker performance of its flagship models. This is illustrated by Samsung’s significant drop in total shipments for Q2 year over year.
On the other hand, Apple’s Q2 dip was noticeably smaller than Samsung’s. In fact, Apple outperformed the market overall, hinting at potential future successes for its already popular iPhone 14 series and the recently introduced iPhone 15. series.
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FAQ’s
1. What is the main focus of the Counterpoint Research report?
The report primarily focuses on the sales performance of Apple and Samsung in the second quarter of 2023. These two brands have managed to secure all the spots in the list of top ten best-selling smartphones globally for this period.
2. How have Apple’s sales performed compared to Samsung?
According to the report, Apple significantly outperformed Samsung, with iPhone models taking up the first four spots on the list of best-selling smartphones for Q2 2023.
3. Which iPhone models are leading in sales?
The iPhone 14 is the top-selling model, followed by the 14 Pro Max, 14 Pro, and iPhone 13, in that order.
4. What about Samsung’s performance?
Samsung’s devices make up the slots from fifth to tenth on the list, with models such as the Galaxy A14, A54, A14 5G, S23 Ultra, A04e, and A34.
5. Have any other brands made it to the top 10 best-selling smartphones?
No, the top ten list for Q2 2023 is completely dominated by Apple and Samsung, notably omitting other major players like Xiaomi, Huawei, and Nokia, among others.
6. How does the Q2 2023 data compare to previous quarters?
In Q2 2022, Samsung and Redmi had entries in the top 10 best-selling smartphones, unlike this year where the list is entirely comprised of Apple and Samsung models.
7. Have there been any significant shifts in Samsung’s rankings?
Yes, the Galaxy S23 Ultra dropped from sixth to eighth place between April and June 2023. Additionally, its other high-end models are missing from the top 10.
8. How are Samsung’s high-end models performing globally?
The high-end models, like the S23 Ultra, seem to be struggling, especially outside of North America and Western Europe.
9. How have mid-tier Samsung models like the A-series performed?
While the A-series has performed well in regions like Asia and Latin America, it hasn’t compensated for the weaker performance of Samsung’s flagship models.
10. Are there any insights into Apple’s future market performance?
Apple’s smaller drop in total shipments for Q2 compared to Samsung, coupled with the continued success of the iPhone 14 series and the newly released iPhone 15 series, suggests that Apple is well-positioned for future market success.
11. Was it common for Apple and Samsung to dominate the market before?
Apple’s focus on quality has often given it an edge, but it is relatively rare for four different iPhone models to dominate the list followed by six Galaxy phones, especially with no interruptions from budget-friendly brands like Redmi.
12. What does the report say about market trends at the end of 2021?
At the end of 2021, the market was more varied. Apple led with seven entries, Samsung had just one, and two different Redmi models also appeared in the global top 10 best-selling smartphones.