Samsung has only just managed to keep the advancing Apple behind it as the seller of the most smartphones in recent months.
According to research firm Canalys, the American iPhone maker had its best third quarter ever and has never been so close to the market leader position in this period. The two rivals were neck and neck with both a market share of 18 percent.
“Continued strong demand for the iPhone 15 series played a key role in the strong sales performance in Q3, as did the popularity of Apple’s older models. The market shift towards premium devices is positive for Apple, particularly in regions with a strong position, such as North America and Europe,” Canalys analyst Runar Bjørhovde said on the agency’s website.
According to Canalys, total smartphone shipments increased for the fourth consecutive quarter, now by 5 percent, driven by strong demand from emerging economies and the fact that people in North America, Europe, and China are gradually replacing devices purchased during the COVID-19 period.
The Chinese Xiaomi follows at some distance from the two market leaders with a market share of 14 percent. The also Chinese Oppo is in the top 4 for the first time this year with 9 percent of the smartphones sold.