by Twenty-three was Apple’s year, dominating the worldwide smartphone industry with seven of its iPhone models ranking in the top ten in terms of sales, according to a Counterpoint Research analysis. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 were the year’s top-selling smartphones, with the iPhone 14 coming in second and third. Samsung’s three models from its low-cost A series were the only Android phones to make it onto the list, as Apple easily defeated its rivals in the top 7.
The research, which was based on Counterpoint Research’s Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker, showed that Apple moved up from six in 2022 and five in 2021 to take the top seven spots for the first time last year. Samsung took possession of the final three. Remarkably, since 2021, no other brands have been on the list. The combined market share of the top 10 smartphones hit a record 20 percent in 2023, up from 19 percent in 2022 and 18 percent in 2021.
The report claims that a number of factors, such as the high demand for the iPhone 14 and 15 series, the older iPhone 13’s continued success, and Apple’s growing market share in emerging areas like India and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), allowed the company to dominate the market.
iPhone 14 is the best-selling smartphone of 2023
With 19% of all iPhone sales in 2023 going to the iPhone 14, which was released in September 2022, it was the best-selling smartphone of the year. Half of the model’s sales came from its primary markets, which were the US and China. Though it had a speedier A16 Bionic CPU and longer battery life than the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 had a comparable design and set of features. The standard model’s adoption was reportedly lessened while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which came with notable enhancements including Dynamic Island, a more sophisticated CPU, and a faster display refresh rate, saw better sales due to the two models’ little differentiation.
iPhone 15 on 3 spot
The iPhone 15 series, which is Apple’s most recent offering, managed to secure the top three positions on the global bestseller list for the fourth quarter of 2023. Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro Max emerged as the most popular smartphone of the quarter. Improved cameras, a speedier A17 Bionic CPU, a 120Hz ProMotion display, and a revised notch were all features of the iPhone 15 series. Despite supply chain delays and a worldwide chip shortage, the sales of the iPhone 15 series in 2022 were on par with those of the iPhone 14 series.
The oldest model on the list, the Apple iPhone 13, continued to rise in volume in Japan and India by double digits year over year (YoY), keeping it in fourth place. According to the research, carrier discounts in Japan boosted sales of previous generations, but the iPhone 13’s low price made it a popular option in India.The value offer of the iPhone 13 made it a popular choice among luxury smartphone purchasers in India, while carrier discounts in Japan encouraged sales of older iPhones over the newest version. When the iPhone 13 was released in September 2021, it had a faster A15 Bionic CPU, a smaller notch, and better cameras.
It’s interesting to note that, in 2023, Apple’s total sales did not change, but those of its rivals did. Given Apple’s deliberate forays into developing economies such as India and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), this was suggestive. India in particular demonstrated Apple’s growing relevance in the country by being the fifth market to achieve 10 million iPhone unit sales in a year.
Best selling Android phones
According to the research, Samsung was the only other Android manufacturer, aside from Apple, to have three models from its entry-level A series included in the top 10 best-selling smartphones of 2023. Due to its strong sales in the US and India, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G came in at number eight. Its huge battery, reasonable pricing, and 5G connection made it the best-selling smartphone in India in 2023.
Fascinatingly, the A04e and A14 4G from Samsung were the only smartphones on the list with LTE capability. Their sales in developing nations like Brazil, India, Mexico, and Indonesia increased as a result of their affordability.Although two brands controlled the industry in 2023, the survey predicts that the market would continue to consolidate as OEMs concentrate on streamlining their portfolios.
As a result, a higher portion of overall sales may go to the top 10 best-selling cellphones. Experts also predict that Chinese firms will make the list since they are offering competitive models and growing their presence in international markets. Additionally, since OEMs are progressively releasing 5G-only models, it’s probable that the top 10 smartphones in 2024 will solely include 5G-capable devices.
