Canalys: Global smartphone shipments to reach 1.14 billion units in 2023

According to Canalys research, the global smartphone market grew 8% year-on-year to 319.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2023, further showing signs of stabilization and recovery. Total shipments for the full year of 2023 were 1.14 billion units, down 4% from 2022. Despite challenges in its core market, Apple took the top spot for the first time in 2023 with a 20% market share and 229.2 million units shipped. Samsung followed closely behind, with a strategy of maintaining profitability, with shipments of 225.4 million units and a 20% market share. Xiaomi consolidated its third position, accounting for 13% of the market share with 146.4 million units shipped. OPPO and Transsion ranked fourth and fifth, with market shares of 9% and 8%, respectively.

Sanyam Chaurasia, senior analyst at Canalys, said: "The recovery in emerging markets was the main driver of the rebound in the second half of 2023, narrowing the decline. Benefiting from additional strategic focus and a large number of mass-market models launched by suppliers, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East showed strong recovery momentum starting in the third quarter of 2023. At the same time, consumer demand improved significantly before the end of the year as macroeconomic conditions improved in the Asia-Pacific region. Transsion and Xiaomi benefited from these strong mass-market rebounds and achieved significant year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter. Mature markets, including China, Europe and North America, still face strong headwinds due to sluggish consumer spending and reduced channel investment. In 2024, emerging markets will remain a strategic market for most smartphone vendors to seek growth."