Global smartphone shipments reached 328 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024 (4Q24), marking a 2.8% increase over the previous quarter, according to a report by Omdia. This growth extended the market’s streak to five consecutive quarters of year-on-year increases. For the full year, shipments totaled 1,223.1 million units, reflecting a 7.1% rise from 1,141.9 million units in 2023.
Apple Maintains Leadership Despite Challenges
Apple led global smartphone shipments in 4Q24, driven by the release of its iPhone 16 series. The company shipped 77.1 million units during the quarter. However, despite outperforming the previous iPhone model in quarterly sales, Apple’s full-year shipments fell to 225.9 million units, down 1.4% from 2023. As per the report, challenges in the Chinese market and increased demand for refurbished iPhones have contributed to the decline.
Apple retained its position as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer for the second year, following its 2023 success in overtaking Samsung.
Samsung and Xiaomi Performance
Samsung’s total shipments for 2024 stood at 222.9 million units, representing a 1.1% decrease from the previous year. An official attributed this decline to weaker performance in the mid-range market, where the A-series comprises a significant portion of Samsung’s portfolio.
Conversely, Xiaomi experienced robust growth in 2024, shipping 168.6 million units, a 15.4% increase over 2023. Strong demand for the Xiaomi 15 and Redmi K80 series in China, along with the company’s expansion into markets like Africa and Latin America, fueled this growth.
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Transsion, Vivo, and Oppo See Positive Trends
Transsion Holding, which owns brands like Infinix, iTel, and Tecno, recorded 106.7 million shipments in 2024, marking a 15.3% increase from the previous year. After a period of rapid expansion in 2023, the company has achieved more stable growth.
Vivo also saw a 14% increase in shipments, totaling 100.9 million units in 2024. According to the report, Vivo’s strategic focus on key markets like China and India played a major role in this recovery. The company strengthened its presence in India through a joint venture with Dixon Technologies, further reinforcing its leadership in the region.
The Oppo Group, which includes Oppo and OnePlus, faced mixed results. Oppo’s strong performance helped the group achieve a 2.8% overall growth with 103.6 million units shipped in 2024, despite a sharp decline of over 20% in OnePlus shipments.
Other OEMs and Market Outlook
Chinese OEMs such as Honor, Lenovo, and Huawei posted double-digit growth in 2024. Factors such as increased demand for budget smartphones and a recovery in key markets like China and India contributed to this performance.
Reflecting on the year, an industry analyst noted that the 7.1% growth rate in 2024 is the highest since 2021, exceeding earlier forecasts. However, the report cautions that growth may not continue at the same pace in 2025. Shipments are expected to remain stable or slightly decline but will likely avoid falling to 2023 levels.
This resurgence indicates a recovery phase for the global smartphone market, driven by strategic product launches and market expansion efforts by major players.
