Tech News
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Apple is on track to reclaim its long-lost crown as the world’s top smartphone manufacturer, potentially ending Samsung Electronics’ decade-long dominance. A new report from Counterpoint Research, cited by Bloomberg on November 26, projects that Apple will finish the year as the global shipment leader with a 19.4% market share — a milestone the company has not reached since 2011.
According to the analysis, Apple’s resurgence is powered by a significant 10% rise in iPhone shipments this year, a growth rate more than double Samsung’s 4.6% increase in its Galaxy lineup. While Apple has traditionally led the industry in revenue due to its premium pricing, Samsung has maintained an edge in unit shipments by offering devices across all price segments. This balance, however, appears to be shifting.
iPhone 17 Series Fuels Apple’s Comeback
A major catalyst behind Apple’s impressive surge is the strong global performance of the iPhone 17 series, released in September. The devices are reportedly performing remarkably well not only in Apple’s home market in the United States but also in key growth regions such as China.
Analysts suggest several factors behind the momentum:
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Improved U.S.–China trade climate, reducing market resistance for American tech brands
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A weakening U.S. dollar, making Apple devices more competitively priced internationally
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A maturing replacement cycle, as millions of consumers who bought smartphones during the COVID-19 era are now due for an upgrade
Yang Wang, an analyst at Counterpoint, noted that the forecasts were revised upward as more consumers enter the replacement phase, boosting demand for Apple’s latest models.
Apple Expected to Lead Global Smartphone Market Through 2029
Counterpoint Research forecasts that Apple will not only take the top position this year but potentially maintain its leadership until at least 2029. Apple is reportedly preparing several strategic product shifts to sustain this lead, including:
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A foldable iPhone, set to enter a market where Samsung once had an undisputed advantage
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A lower-cost model tentatively dubbed the ‘iPhone 17e’, aimed at strengthening Apple’s presence in the mid-range category
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A new biannual product release cycle, beginning next year, which will spread major launches across both the first and second halves of the year to drive consistent sales momentum
Samsung Faces Rising Threat From Chinese Smartphone Makers
While Apple climbs upward, Samsung’s challenge is twofold. Beyond Apple’s renewed strength, Chinese manufacturers — once confined to the budget segment — are now aggressively expanding into the premium and foldable smartphone markets.
Companies such as Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi have made significant strides in high-end hardware and design, eroding Samsung’s historical advantages. The foldable phone category, which Samsung pioneered and once dominated, is now led by Chinese firms that occupy both the first and second positions globally.
China’s domestic foldable phone market has expanded rapidly, accounting for 57% of global foldable shipments in the first half of the year, highlighting the shifting competitive landscape.
