Based on a preliminary report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), the smartphone market finished 2024 on a high. Q4 2024 was the sixth consecutive quarter of rising shipments – 331.7 million smartphones were shipped in the three-month period, up 2.4% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Apple and Samsung remained the market leaders, although both saw declines in shipments compared to the final quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, Xiaomi regained its third position and started closing the gap on Samsung.
Below that we have a tie – the numbers were too close for IDC to call, so Transion and Vivo both tie for fourth. This is good news for Vivo, whose shipments increased by 12.7% (the largest increase on the charts), while Transion declined slightly.
| Top 5 companies, worldwide smartphone shipments, market share and year-on-year growth, Q4 2024 (Preliminary results, shipments in millions of units) |
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| company | 4Q24 Shipment | 4Q24 market share | 4Q23 Shipment | 4Q23 market share | 4Q24/4Q23 developments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Apple | 76.9 | 23.20% | 80.2 | 24.70% | -4.10% |
| 2. Samsung | 51.7 | 15.60% | 53.1 | 16.40% | -2.70% |
| 3. Xiaomi | 42.7 | 12.90% | 40.7 | 12.60% | 4.80% |
| 4. Infection* | 27.2 | 8.20% | 28.2 | 8.70% | -3.40% |
| 4. Vivo* | 27.1 | 8.20% | 24 | 7.40% | 12.70% |
| Other | 106.1 | 32.00% | 97.7 | 30.20% | 8.60% |
| Total | 331.7 | 100.00% | 324 | 100.00% | 2.40% |
| Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, 2025 | |||||
Looking at the results of 2024 as a whole, the picture looks mostly the same – Apple and Samsung lead the way, but saw slightly lower results than in 2023, while third-place Xiaomi had a very good year.
Despite not performing too well in Q4, Transsion performed solid overall in 2024 with growth comparable to Xiaomi, although it still has a long way to go to reach that total number. Interestingly, IDC has listed Oppo here at fourth place with Transcendent instead of Vivo.
| Top 5 companies, worldwide smartphone shipments, market share and year-on-year growth, CY 2024 (Preliminary results, shipments in millions of units) |
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| company | 2024 shipment | 2024 market share | 2023 shipment | 2023 market share | 2024/2023 development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Apple | 232.1 | 18.70% | 234.3 | 20.10% | -0.90% |
| 2. Samsung | 223.4 | 18.00% | 226.7 | 19.50% | -1.40% |
| 3. Xiaomi | 168.5 | 13.60% | 146 | 12.50% | 15.40% |
| 4. Infection* | 106.9 | 8.60% | 94.9 | 8.20% | 12.70% |
| 4. Oppo* | 104.8 | 8.50% | 103.4 | 8.90% | 1.40% |
| Other | 402.9 | 32.50% | 358.9 | 30.80% | 12.30% |
| Total | 1238.8 | 100.00% | 1164.1 | 100.00% | 6.40% |
| Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, 2025 | |||||
Anthony Scarcella, research director of client devices at IDC, has some worrying news about foldables: “Vendors have begun to shift R&D away from foldables as consumer interest remains stagnant. Additionally, many vendors are “We are prioritizing new AI advancements at the expense of AI as AI is being featured on more and more devices, especially at the upper end of the market, thanks to GenAI.”
Looking ahead to this year, Nabila Popal, senior research director, Worldwide Client Devices at IDC, said: “While we remain optimistic about continued growth into 2025, the threat of new and increased tariffs from the new US administration adds uncertainty. Has increased.” Throughout the industry, some players were prompted to seek preventive measures to reduce risks; However, so far, the impact has been minimal.”
