A recent report from market researcher Counterpoint Research found that Apple dominated premium smartphone sales in 2023, accounting for more than 70% of global sales alone.
Samsung occupies second place with a market share of 17%, a slight increase over last year, thanks to strong sales of its Galaxy S23 series and its foldable phones, while Huawei comes in third place with a market share of 5% thanks to sales of the Mate 60 series, which will be published in the second half. From 2023.
Xiaomi and OPPO occupy fourth and fifth positions with smaller market shares. Both companies have tended to focus on the flagship smartphone space in recent years.
The report shows that sales of high-end smartphones priced above US$600 increased by 6% year-on-year and currently represent about 24% of total smartphone sales, with the largest increase seen in developing markets such as China. India and the Middle East.
One of the main reasons for the growth of the premium smartphone market is companies releasing expensive versions worth $1,000 or more, and this growth is expected to continue in the near future.
A number of high-end smartphones are expected to be launched in 2024, including Samsung's Galaxy S24 series in the first quarter and Apple's iPhone 16 series in the last quarter, in addition to a number of foldable phones.