Samsung edges ahead of Apple in Q3 2024 smartphone market

Samsung and Apple had neck-and-neck in the Q3 2024 smartphone market reports Canalys. The market research firm recently published its analysis for the quarter ended on September 30. The data shows an alarming situation for both Samsung and Apple.

Canalys reports that both Samsung and Apple secured 18% market share in Q3 2024. Xiaomi ranked third with a 14% market share in the same period. The Chinese firm grew 1% year-over-year, similar to Apple, while Samsung declined 3%.

Researchers note that it’s the highest market share Apple achieved against the leading firm in the third quarter. The company’s flagships were released in late September, with merely 3 days of sales have been counted in during the period.

The impact of the iPhone 16 series will be seen in the current quarter. iPhone 15 and other iPhone models managed to rank Apple second in a neck-to-neck fight with Samsung. The Korean tech giant declined from 21% in 2023 to 18% in 2024.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in July this year. The company’s flagship foldable phones just kept it away from getting beaten by Apple. The iPhone maker grew significantly in its unusual timeframe viz. Q3.

Xiaomi was a comfortable third place with 14% of the market. OPPO (9%) and vivo (9%) rounded out the top five. The top two positions are highly likely to be shuffled in the next report on the smartphone market in the fourth quarter of the year.

“Apple achieved its highest third-quarter volume to date and has never been closer to leading the global smartphone market in a Q3 than now,” Canalys analyst Runar Bjørhovde was quoted as saying.