According to statistics released on Sunday by research company IDC, Apple's smartphone sales decreased by almost 10% in the first quarter of 2024 as a result of more intense competition from Android smartphone manufacturers aiming for the top place, Reuters reported.
Between January and March, shipments of smartphones worldwide rose 7.8% to 289.4 million devices, with Samsung overtaking Apple as the leading phone maker with a 20.8% market share.
The sharp drop in sales for the iPhone manufacturer follows a great quarter in which it surpassed Samsung to become the world's top phone manufacturer. With a 17.3% market share, it has returned to the second position as Chinese companies like Huawei increase their market share.
One of the leading smartphone manufacturers in China, Xiaomi, came in third place in the first quarter with a 14.1% market share.
Over 60 million phones were supplied by the South Korean company Samsung during the period after the company launched its most recent flagship smartphone range, the Galaxy S24 series, at the beginning of the year.
According to data source Counterpoint, within the first three weeks of the Galaxy S24 series' availability, global sales of smartphones increased by 8% in comparison to the Galaxy S23 series of the previous year.
IDC says that Apple delivered 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, compared to 55.4 million units during the same period last year.
In comparison to a year earlier, Apple's smartphone shipments to China decreased by 2.1% in the last quarter of 2023.
The decline highlights the difficulties the American company is having in its third-largest market, where several Chinese businesses and government organizations ban employee access to Apple devices. This practice is similar to the American government restrictions on Chinese apps due to security concerns.
At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, the Cupertino, California-based company will highlight updates to software for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products.
Investors are keeping a close watch on Apple's artificial intelligence research efforts, as the company has not disclosed many details about how it plans to integrate AI technology into its products.
Microsoft surpassed the company earlier this year to take the title of most valuable company in the world.
