Global Smartphone Market Shows Steady Growth in 2024

A new report from market research firm Omdia highlights steady growth in the global smartphone market. Global smartphone shipments reached 328 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 2.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The industry has now recorded five consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth, with Xiaomi smartphones leading the charge by shipping 169 million units in 2024.

Xiaomi Leads Growth Among Top Brands

Xiaomi demonstrated the most impressive growth among the world's top five smartphone brands, shipping 169 million smartphones in 2024. This represents an increase of over 20 million units compared to 2023. Omdia noted that Xiaomi's performance exceeded expectations, driven by the success of the Mi 15 series and Redmi K80, which were launched in the fourth quarter. These models were well-received in China and expanded into international markets, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

Apple Maintains Leading Position Despite Decline

Apple remained the world's leading smartphone brand in 2024, but its shipments declined slightly. Thanks to the iPhone 16 series, global iPhone shipments reached 77.1 million units in Q4 2024. However, this is 1 million units less than the 78.1 million shipped in Q4 2023. For the full year, Apple shipped 225 million smartphones, a 1.4% decline from the 229 million units shipped in 2023. Despite the decline, Apple continues to lead the market, maintaining its edge over Samsung.

Samsung Faces Slight Decline

Samsung remained a key player in the smartphone market but saw a slight decline in shipments. The company shipped 51.9 million smartphones in Q4 2024, bringing its total shipments for the year to 223 million units, a 1.1% decline compared to 2023. Samsung's market share was affected by increasing competition from brands like Xiaomi and Transsion.

Other Major Players in the Smartphone Market

In addition to Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, other brands also performed well in 2024:

• Transsion secured fourth place with 107 million units shipped.
• Vivo followed closely in fifth place with 101 million units shipped.

The smartphone industry showed a strong recovery in 2024, with global shipments reaching 1.223 billion units, a 7.1% increase from 2023. While Apple maintained its leading position despite a slight decline, Xiaomi recorded the fastest growth, driven by strong sales in China and expanding international markets. Samsung faced challenges but remained a key player, while brands like Transsion and Vivo maintained solid positions. The industry's steady growth signals a promising future for smartphone manufacturers worldwide.