Phone
Samsung Outpaces Apple in Q1 2024 Shipments, Grabs Smartphone Lead According to IDC
Samsung is leading the race as Apple loses its top phone maker position since iPhone shipments shot down in the first quarter of 2024.
The first quarter of 2024 has already passed, as per the metrics of Apple (AAPL). Smartphone shipments shot down nearly 10%; it is being speculated that intensifying competition by Android smartphone makers aiming for the top spot is causing this, according to data from research firm IDC.
Global smartphone shipments rose 7.8% to 289.4 million units during the first quarter from January to March, at 20.8% market share, clinching the top phone maker spot from Apple.
Apple’s iPhone sales started shooting down sharply after going through a tough quarter. It even overtook Samsung as the world’s number one phone maker, but unfortunately, it has fallen back to second place with 17.3% market share as Chinese brands such as Huawei gain market share.
Xiaomi was in the third position with a 14.1% share during the first quarter. One of the key reasons behind Apple losing its first position is Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, which launched earlier this year, and the brand has shipped more than 60 million units of the Galaxy S24 within the first quarter.
Global sales of Galaxy S24 smartphones boosted by 8% as compared to their predecessor Galaxy S23 series in their first three weeks of availability, data provider Counterpoint previously said. As per the metrics of the first quarter, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, down from the 55.4 million units it shipped in the same period last year, according to IDC.
Whereas, Apple’s smartphone shipments in China shrank 2.1% in the final quarter of 2023 as compared to 2022. iPhone sales collapsed in China, which is Apple’s third-biggest market. This decline is partly because of restrictions placed on Apple devices by a few Chinese brands and also government agencies, mirroring the same actions the US government has taken against Chinese applications. Apple will hold its WWDC in June to introduce software updates for its devices.
Samsung has kept the same battery capacity for the flagship devices while also sticking to the same fast charging speed. If we look at the Galaxy S Ultra devices from the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the company has stuck with 45 W charging and the same 5000 mAh battery. According to the latest report, the Galaxy S25 Ultra may also use the same battery and specifications.
Previous, it was rumored that the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be equipped with stacked battery technology, which could lead to maximizing the component cost, but now, according to an X user named Sawyer Galox, it is reported that the Korean giant will skip this hardware change on the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra to save on component cost.
Along with this, the tipster also expressed his disappointment with Samsung’s take on the unchained hardware. He adds that users who want to buy the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra should keep their expectations low with the battery performance, as Samsung will keep the specs the same with the 500mAh battery and the 45W.
However, the company will also introduce its latest device with new chipsets that may provide improved optimization, which may provide some long-lasting battery life, but it will not provide any improvement in charging.
Samsung is preparing to introduce its next-generation foldable device, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, given that the new smartphones in the Z lineup typically launch between July and August, some rumors suggest that the company might host the next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10, 2024. Despite the date being more than three months away, numerous details have surfaced online.
According to recent reports, Samsung plans to implement its dual chipset strategy for the foldable, mirroring the Galaxy S series lineup, where some models of the Galaxy S base and Galaxy S+ devices feature Snapdragon, while in other markets, they feature Exynos.
The next foldable lineup rumoured to come with multiple chipsets; for example, the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s last Geekbench listing showed that it has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. However, this processor is already one year old, so there are fewer expectations that it could be available in the main models. However, if a rumor proves to be accurate, it could potentially be available for the FE variant of the devices.
For your information, the rumors have revealed that Samsung could introduce two new versions of the foldable devices with the brand names ‘FE’ and ‘Ultra‘, so to make the difference, it may introduce them in separate chipsets. If it provides the older chipset for the FE version, then it will be successful in cost-cutting and releasing the device at a low cost.
Following the successful launch of the Galaxy S24 flagship device, several rumors have started circulating on the internet. Now, according to the latest development, there is a new listing coming in the highlight, which means the phone is under development and will be available on the market soon.
Some reports suggest that the Galaxy S24 FE, currently under development under the code name R12, could make its market debut in late 2024. Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S24 FE will initially be available in limited markets before potentially launching globally in 2024.
The Internet has also surfaced some rumored specs of the S24 FE, revealing several details about the device, including a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, 128 GB and 256 GB of RAM, and 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It might have a 4500 mAh battery for power backup.
Samsung hasn’t officially revealed anything about the Galaxy S24 FE’s features or release date yet. However, a listing in a UK carrier database suggests this phone – known for offering flagship specs at a lower price – is coming soon.
