5 most popular smartphone brands in 2024 are named
Which smartphone brands led the market in 2024 (photo: Freepik)
Global smartphone sales grew in 2024 after two years of decline. The main contribution to the growth was made by Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Vivo, but Apple and Samsung continue to confidently hold the market leadership, reports The Verge.
According to Counterpoint, smartphone sales grew by 4 percent in 2024, while IDC and Canalys report global shipments growing by 6-7 percent.
At the same time, experts note that the growth is taking place against the backdrop of weak results in 2023, which was the most disastrous year in the last ten years. Analysts predict that this positive trend will continue in 2025.
"2024 has been a year of recovery and normalization after a difficult 2023," says Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint. "The market began to show signs of recovery in the fourth quarter of 2023 and has been growing for five consecutive quarters."
Analysts' opinions differed on the market leader: Counterpoint claims that at the end of the year Samsung took the first place in terms of market share, while IDC and Canalys call Apple the leader.
However, all three agencies agree that the third place is confidently occupied by Xiaomi, which showed the highest growth rate among the major players - the company's sales grew by 12 percent, according to Counterpoint. Xiaomi's market share reached 14 percent in 2024, bringing it closer to Apple's 18 percent.
They are followed by Oppo (including OnePlus), Vivo, and the Transition Group, which includes the Tecno and Infinix brands. These companies gained strong positions due to strong sales in Asia and growth in Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Counterpoint and IDC attribute sales growth in 2024 to the emergence of smartphones positioned as artificial intelligence (AI) devices. This has become a new trend in the market, displacing folding screens from the position of the main trend.
"We are seeing a decline in demand for foldable smartphones, despite active promotions and marketing," said Anthony Scarsella, research director at IDC. According to him, manufacturers are now paying more attention to the introduction of AI through foldable devices.
Counterpoint predicts that by 2028, 90 percent of smartphones costing more than $250 will be equipped with generative AI.
Counterpoint sees Samsung as the leader in 2024, despite a slight decline in market share (photo: Counterpoint)
Read also about 6 key trends that Android smartphones will face in 2025.
We also wrote that in 2025, the market will see smartphones with record-breaking operating time.
