15+ Mind-Blowing Smartphone Sales Statistics 2023

Barry Elad

Updated · Mar 05, 2024

15+ Mind-Blowing Smartphone Sales Statistics 2023

Smartphone Sales Statistics: If your phone is not in your pocket, your smartphone is likely nearby. While it was true that half of the world’s population had smartphones in 2016, that percentage currently appears to be significantly higher—nearly 85.88% of the population.

What does this all mean?

The smartphone market is worth billions of dollars, so brands are trying to get you to buy one of their smartphones. We have all the details of this fight in this collection of Smartphone Sales Statistics

In this article, we will discuss smartphone sales statistics.

Amazing Facts About Smartphone Industry (Editor’s Choice)

  • In the 1st quarter of 2023, the global market share of smartphones has reached 280.2 million units which has declined by 14% from last year.
  • In the 1st quarter of 2023, the leading smartphone player sales were achieved by Samsung with a recent launch of the S23 series.
  • To date 2023, global smartphone users turned out 6.92 billion 
  • Young adults(18 to 49) are very fond of smartphones.
  • Companies shipped 43 billion smartphones around the world in 2023 with a fall of 4%.
  • According to International Data Corporation, by the 1st half of 2023 across the world, the shipment of smartphones reached 34 million a decline from last year.
  • The best-selling smartphone worldwide is the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 26.5 million sales.
  • In recent years, the industry has sold roughly 5 billion smartphones yearly.
  • China continues to be the world’s largest country that ships the most smartphones, with a global market share.
  • In the global smartphone market, Apple holds 15% to 17% of the market.
  • The results for the worldwide smartphone industry in 2021 were a loss of 13% (YOY)year-over-year.
  • In the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2023, Samsung is the fastest-growing brand with a market share of 20% and 18% respectively.

Global Shipment Market Statistics

(Source: telecomlead.com)

  • The top shipment market share of global Smartphones in the 1st quarter of 2023 is Samsung with a 22% share. Whereas other brands are followed by Apple (21%), Xiaomi (11%), Oppo (10%), Vivo (7%), and others (29%).
  • In the 2nd quarter of 2023, share brands are followed by Samsung (20%), Apple (17%), Xiaomi (12%), Oppo (10%), Vivo (8%), and others (33%).
  • By the end of April 2023, according to the worldwide smartphone shipment market forecast revenue earned by 4G ASP ($159 million), SP ASP ($584 million), and 5G ASP ($421 million).
  • By the end of 2027, the shipment share is predicted to be 4G ASP ($ 92 million), SP ASP ($377 million), and 5G ASP ($433 million).

Global Smartphone Sales: By Region, By Year, and By Age Group

The industry is enormous, as we all know. How big is the industry?

Millions of people are customers, and even more, smartphones have been sold. Can you imagine how much revenue this generates?

 #1. Young adults (18 to 49) are very fond of smartphones.

  • This would be wise if we had to focus on a more specific segment of the smartphone market. After all, in the United States, at least 95% of individuals in that age group are smartphone owners.
  • Now, unexpectedly, only 61% of older folks own a smartphone, even though 78% of baby boomers use Facebook.
  • There is no discernible difference between the gender demographics; 85% of women and men have one of these devices.

#2. Number of smartphones sold Globally

  • By the end of 2023, around 1,339.5 million numbers of smartphones sold to end users around the world.

(Source: Statista)

#3. In 2023, sales of smartphones reached $0.5 trillion worldwide

  • This is hardly surprising, as Chinese consumers spent $119.2 billion on smartphones alone in 2023.
  • On the other hand, by 2028 the revenue share of the smartphone market is expected to grow by 2.38% of CAGR

What about those in Western Europe?

Nearly $56 billion is half of the global sales!

What about North America?

$84 billion is not surprising considering that 85% of Americans use smartphones.

#4. North America has the most significant smartphone adoption rate (82%)

  • It should not be surprising that North America has the fastest adoption of technology.
  • After all, the United States, the second-most technologically advanced nation, is a part of the aforementioned continent.
  • The adoption rate in the region will reach 85% by 2025.
  • On the other end of the scale, Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest adoption rate of any region.
  • Only 64% of people in that region had smartphones as of 2021.
  • Predictions of Statista indicate that 75% of them will have one by 2025.

#5. Market share of smartphones worldwide in 2023, by the vendor

  • Regarding shipments, Samsung had the highest share of the worldwide smartphone market in the third quarter of 2021, making up ground lost by Apple after the release of the iPhone 14 Pro Max at the end of 2023.
  • Despite dropping out of the top five suppliers in the previous quarter, Huawei did not rejoin them this time around, with Xiaomi securing the third spot with a firm grasp.

Global Market Share

Leading smartphone suppliers own the majority of the global market share

(Source: Statcounter)

#6. 4.7% The global market was down year over year at the start of 2023.

  • As of 2023, total shipments by 1.15 billion units with a decline of 4.7% from last year.
  • In other words, the overall YOY was negative 7%, while the quarter-over-quarter decrease was 12%.

Some of the reasons are a resurgence of COVID-19, lack of material supplies, and the ongoing conflict in Europe.

#7. The best-selling smartphone worldwide is the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

  • The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the most popular phone worldwide as of 2023, accounting for 19% of all smartphones.
  • By the end of 1st half of 2023, the shipment of iPhone Pro Max around 26.5 million units
  • Apple occupied 7 of the top 10 spots on the list. More than that, iPhones are the top 5 most popular smartphones.
  • Other brands were included in the top 10: The Xiaomi Redmi 9A and Redmi 9 models came in at positions 7 and 10, respectively, while the Samsung Galaxy A12 grabbed 6th position.

#8. India’s Quarterly Market Share for Smartphones.

India’s Quarterly Market Share for mobile phones is mentioned below.

(Source: gizmochina.com)

Samsung Smartphone Sales Statistics

  • The Samsung Galaxy, the South Korean company’s first smartphone, swiftly paved the way for many opportunities for the business and the sector after making its debut in June 2009.
  • Samsung is now frequently found in the top spot on the charts (You may check out the company’s performance in 2023).

#9. Samsung’s smartphone sales brought in around $46.95 billion.

  • By the end of 2023, Samsung’s revenue decreased by 6% from last year.
  • This might be partly because the company shipped three times as many foldable gadgets in 2023 as it did the previous year.

Fun fact: Samsung began testing foldable technology in 2013; its bet appears to have paid off. The company released two new foldable smartphones, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold3 5G, in 2021.

#10. Samsung sold around 53.5 million mobile phones in 2023.

  • Despite losing to Apple in the 2nd quarter of 2023 Apple claimed a 16% market share. Samsung still leads the year in terms of overall shipments.
  • The first quarter of 2022 saw Samsung sell more than 74 million smartphones, making it the company’s most profitable in recent history and the most profitable quarter overall.
  • Only 59 million and 39 million devices were sold by other household names like Xiaomi and Apple.

#11. Samsung’s market share in Q1 of 2023 to Q3 of 2023.

  • The firm held 27.01% of the market in Q1 of 2023; only a quarter later, that number had decreased to 25.47%.
  • On the other hand, by the 3rd quarter of 2023, the market share has decreased by 24.44%.
  • Despite shipment fall, Samsung and Apple still ranked first among the biggest mobile phone manufacturers in 2023, thanks to their performance in the first few months of the year (so far).

iPhone Sales Statistics

  • Two years before Samsung debuted in the smartphone market, Apple introduced its first iPhone.
  • The first of Apple’s mobile phones, which combined an iPod with a groundbreaking internet communicator, established the standard for success back in 2007.

#12. In the 3rd quarter of 2023, Apple made $39.67 billion from the sale of smartphones.

  • According to valuation estimates, the company is valued at more than $2 trillion, making it one of the most valuable technology companies in the world.
  • The business generated $0.5 trillion in total revenue as of 2023. This means that iPhones accounted for a 21% share of total smartphones shipped in the 1st quarter of 2023.
  • iPhone users statistics by gender in 2023 are female 51% and males (49%).

Fun fact: The iPhone 13 series was responsible for the 12% growth in the global smartphone ASP. This is not surprising considering that the iPhones’ global ASP increased by 14%, hitting $825.

#13. Apple’s shipments reached a peak of 45.3 million units in 2023.

  • Apple is responsible for the most successful smartphone in the world (the iPhone 14).
  • The best-selling smartphone here in the USA (the iPhone 14 Pro Max), as well as other global phenomena such as the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and AirPods.
  • Apple also recently debuted the iPhone 14 series in 2023. Therefore, it is simple to understand why iPhone sales exceeded 206.1 million units, making 2023 the year that Apple shipped the most iPhones.
  • It registered nearly 81.5 million shipments-almost twice as many as the third quarter’s 48 million.

Xiaomi Smartphones Sales Statistics

  • The Chinese business, which has its headquarters in Beijing, released its first mobile device (the Xiaomi Mi 1) in 2011.
  • Xiaomi was the most popular smartphone company in China in 2014.
  • In the 2nd quarter of 2023, the revenue earned by Xiaomi phone shipment was reduced by 15.8%.
  • As of 2023, it is expected that the revenue is going to be $5 billion with a decline of 13.27% and shipped units turned to 32.9 million.
  • It is currently well renowned for offering inexpensive Android devices that have captured the hearts of millions of customers.

#14. In terms of market share worldwide, Xiaomi ranks third.

  • Xiaomi’s market share ranged from 8% to 14% in the past few years. It’s roughly 11.1% as of August 2023.
  • Xiaomi’s market share has declined in recent years as it lagged behind Samsung and Apple.
  • Xiaomi has occasionally outperformed Apple, most notably in Q3 of 2020 (13% vs. 11%) and Q2 of 2021 (16% vs. 15%).

#15. Xiaomi made nearly $37.41 billion from smartphone sales in 2023.

  • Xiaomi’s revenue in 2023 has increased by 65.1% from last year. The business shipped 33.2 million units in 2023.
  • India might be one of the primary causes of the increase in revenue. The nation saw a 39% surge in sales of smartphones costing $250 or more.

Nokia Smartphone Sales Statistics

  • Maybe, Increased European market expansion could benefit Nokia and help it regain its top spots.
  • As of 1st half of 2023 the net sales range between EUR 23.2 – 24.6 billion with an operating margin between 11.5% to 13%.

#16. In Europe, Nokia is the 5th most-loved smartphone brand.

  • In Europe, Nokia’s market share was 5% in the middle of 2023, placing the company in 5th place among the continent’s leading smartphone manufacturers.
  • It performed much better in the Nordic nations, the 4th most well-loved brand.

#17. Nokia smartphone shipments have declined by 6.8% in 2023.

  • Nokia shipped 268 million units in 2023, which is roughly 3 million fewer than it shipped in 2023.
  • Nokia’s sales in the final quarter of 2022 peaked and reached around 3.2 million units, a 17% increase from the Q3 of 2022 and a 35% increase from the Q4 of 2022.
  • The actual number of phones shipped by Nokia in 2021 was 53.2 million. Yes, Nokia is still selling feature mobile phones- particularly 42.3 million of them.

Fun fact: Only 11% of US adults have a smartphone, despite owning a cell phone. The fact states that smartphones have shown to be quite addictive in past years and by 2023 it reduced.

Huawei Smartphone Sales Statistics

  • As of July 2023, Huawei is termed as the 6th largest smartphone industry with 4% market share.
  • In China, in the 1st quarter of 2023, the market growth rate turned to 41%.
  • However, despite its recent steady expansion, Huawei appears to be losing value as revenue steadily declines.
  • The US ban decreased Huawei’s sales by 70% in 2023.
  • As a result, for the first time in 7 years, the company dropped out of China’s top 5 sellers.

#18. In January 2023, realme shipped more than 52 million units

  • Realme received many favorable reviews thanks to its exciting features and 5G technologies.
  • Realme is one of the most popular 5G smartphone brands, with a 150% increase in this segment between Q2 of 2023 and becoming the largest 5G brand in Italy, France, the UK, Switzerland, and Spain.
  • However, realme’s revenues are generally increasing by more than doubling annually. There were 64.6 million total exports in 2022, 42.4 million (a 65% YoY growth) in 2020, and 64.6 million in 2021.

#19. Vivo recorded a 16.67% increase in market share in its revenue, in 2023

  • It had revenue of approximately $1.27 billion in 2023. This company rose to the fifth-largest global smartphone brand with a total market shipment of 64 million units.
  • Unfortunately, Vivo’s market share is around 5%%. However, recently, it has tended to edge near 8%.
  • On the other hand, the company’s market share shows consistency, which denotes stable performance.

#20. In 2023, OPPO’s smartphone sales reached $104 billion

  • Despite this, OPPO’s market share has not changed much over the years, sticking within the 9% to 11% range.
  • It is trending toward the lower end of the range as of Q1 2023.
  • In terms of the actual devices sold, this translates to 25.4 million OPPO smartphones shipped during that quarter.

Fun fact: OPPO sold 132.6 million devices in 2023 with a market share of 13% in the 1st quarter of 2023. Smartphones with 5G- enabled accounted for 50% of that total.

Conclusion

It is evident that the smartphone market is continuing to grow and that many different players are vying for a piece of the pie. With so many other options available, knowing which one is the right fit for you can be challenging. But by understanding the  Smartphone Sales Statistics, you can get a better idea of which ones are most popular and what features they offer.

Just as a brand could rank number one today but drop off the list tomorrow (Huawei is the main example), and vice versa company can come out of nowhere and become the fastest-growing brand, such as Realme.

Even though the smartphone market appears to be declining at the start of 2022, it does not mean that the most prominent smartphone vendors will continue to innovate and grow.

Barry Elad
Barry Elad

Barry is a lover of everything technology. Figuring out how the software works and creating content to shed more light on the value it offers users is his favorite pastime. When not evaluating apps or programs, he's busy trying out new healthy recipes, doing yoga, meditating, or taking nature walks with his little one.

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