Apple takes top spot for first-quarter smartphone sales

Apple Takes Top Spot in Global Smartphone Sales

Apple took the top spot for global smartphone sales in the first quarter on the back of the iPhone 16’s launch and strong demand in countries such as Japan and India, data from Counterpoint Research showed on Monday (Apr 14).

Market Share and Sales

Apple had 19 per cent of the smartphone market, despite flat or declining sales in the US, Europe, and China, followed by Samsung with 18 per cent of the market, according to Counterpoint.

Global Smartphone Shipments

Global smartphone shipments rose 1.5 per cent in the first quarter, according to the International Data Corporation, which tracks mobile phone shipments, with Apple rushing to stockpile units to avoid tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Tariffs and Global Trade Tensions

Trump’s back-and-forth tariffs and escalation of global trade tensions have resulted in global financial market turmoil for the past two weeks, a worsening economic outlook, and the possibility of stronger inflation.

Apple’s Efforts to Avoid Tariffs

Apple had chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones, or as many as 1.5 million, to the United States from India in an effort to beat the tariffs.

Exemption from Tariffs

However, Trump’s decision to exclude smartphones, computers, and some other electronics from the sweeping reciprocal duties on China led to a rise in global tech shares on Monday.

Expert Insights

“The recent exemption by the US government pausing smartphone import tariffs from China offers temporary relief for US companies, but heavy reliance on China’s supply chain persists amid ongoing tariff volatility,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president, worldwide device trackers, IDC.

“Right now, the focus for US smartphone brands should be taking advantage of the exemption by building and shipping as much as possible.”

Sales Rankings

Counterpoint, which expects the smartphone market to decline this year due to tariff-related uncertainty, said Xiaomi continued its sales momentum in third place, while Vivo took the fourth spot and OPPO was fifth.

Conclusion

Apple’s success in the first quarter was largely driven by the launch of the iPhone 16 and strong demand in countries such as Japan and India. However, the company faces ongoing challenges due to tariff-related uncertainty and the potential for a decline in smartphone sales this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was Apple’s market share in the first quarter?

A: Apple had 19 per cent of the smartphone market.

Q: Who was in second place in terms of market share?

A: Samsung was in second place with 18 per cent of the market.

Q: What was the impact of Trump’s tariffs on global smartphone sales?

A: The tariffs led to a decline in smartphone sales in the US, Europe, and China, but Apple was able to stockpile units to avoid the tariffs.

Q: What is the outlook for the smartphone market this year?

A: Counterpoint expects the market to decline due to tariff-related uncertainty.