INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Apple&s (AAPL.O), opens new tab smartphone shipments dropped about 10% in the first quarter of 2024, hurt by intensifying competition by
Android smartphone makers aiming for the top spot, data from research firm IDC showed on Sunday.Global smartphone shipments increased 7.8%
to 289.4 million units during January-March, with Samsung (005930.KS), opens new tab, at 20.8% market share, clinching the top phonemaker
spot from Apple, Reuters reported.The iPhone-maker&s steep sales decline comes after its strong performance in the December quarter when it
overtook Samsung as the world&s No.1 phone maker
It&s back to the second spot, with 17.3% market share, as Chinese brands such as Huawei gain market share.Xiaomi, one of China&s top
smartphone makers, occupied the third position with a market share of 14.1% during the first quarter, read the report.South Korea&s Samsung,
which launched its latest flagship smartphone lineup & Galaxy S24 series & in the beginning of the year, shipped more than 60 million phones
during the period.Global sales of Galaxy S24 smartphones jumped 8%, compared to last year&s Galaxy S23 series during their first three weeks
of availability, data provider Counterpoint previously said.In the first quarter, Apple shipped 50.1 million iPhones, down from 55.4 million
units it shipped same period last year, according to IDC.Apple&s smartphone shipments in China shrank 2.1% in the final quarter of 2023 from
a year earlier.The drop underscores the challenges facing the U.S
firm in its third biggest market, as some Chinese companies and government agencies limit employees& use of Apple devices, a measure that
government restrictions on Chinese apps on security grounds.The Cupertino, California-based company in June will hold its Worldwide
Developers Conference (WWDC), where it will highlight updates to the software powering iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.Investors are
closely watching for updates on artificial intelligence development at Apple, which has so far spoken little about incorporating the AI
technology into its devices
The company earlier this year lost the crown as the world&s most valuable company to Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab, Reuters reported.The
post Apple loses top phonemaker spot to Samsung as iPhone shipments drop, IDC says first appeared on Ariana News.
