Apple's share of the worldwide smartphone market grew slightly in the first three months of 2018, despite Samsung launching the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in March, according to research firms IDC and Strategy Analytics.
Apple on Tuesday reported that it sold 52.2 million iPhones last quarter. Based on that, the research firms estimate that the iPhone accounted for around 15.5 percent of smartphone shipments during the quarter, a slight increase from 14.7 percent in the year-ago period.
While the single-percentage-point growth is modest, the slight gain becomes more impressive when considering that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ launched March 16 in several countries, a full two weeks prior to the quarter ending. Pre-orders of the devices began even earlier on March 2.
Samsung shipped 78.2 million smartphones last quarter, according to the research firms, but its estimated 22.6 to 23.4 percent market share was essentially unchanged from the year-ago quarter, despite the bumped-up Galaxy S9 launch. Last year, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ were released April 21.
Samsung continues to lead the smartphone market in shipments, but it sells a variety of handsets at a wide range of price points. Apple typically ships fewer iPhones, but the company captured an estimated 87 percent of smartphone profits in the December quarter, according to research firm Canaccord Genuity.
Apple doesn't disclose iPhone sales on a model-by-model basis, but given iPhone revenue increased 14 percent last quarter despite only a three percent rise in unit sales, the higher-priced iPhone X was likely a big factor.
Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring.
There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category.
M4...
Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued.
The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
Friday February 21, 2025 1:08 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple finally released the first beta of iOS 18.4 to developers for testing purposes, and while the beta is lacking some of the Apple Intelligence features we were hoping for, there are some notable new additions.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence
There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most...
Friday February 21, 2025 11:06 am PST by Juli Clover
In iOS 18.4, there's a new Ambient Music option that can be added to Control Center. There are four different sound categories, including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
Each category can be added to Control Center separately, and tapping one plays a random selection of sounds or music from that particular category.
You can't choose what's playing from Control Center, but if...
Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.
In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Friday February 21, 2025 8:01 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple has confirmed that its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e has nothing to do with the device's lack of MagSafe support, according to Macworld.
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, there was some speculation online about how MagSafe magnets might have interfered with the C1 modem's cellular connectivity performance, and this was considered to be a potential reason for the...
Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by Juli Clover
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch.
All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
Thursday February 20, 2025 8:55 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Oppo has launched the Find N5, the world's thinnest foldable phone yet. When closed, the book-style foldable measures 8.93mm. That's less than a millimeter thicker than an iPhone 16 Pro, and thinner than the Honor Magic V3, which was the previous record holder.
The device is barely thicker than its USB-C port. Indeed, Oppo has suggested that the obstacle to making it any thinner is now "the...
The S9 is a complete flop ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/04/17/iphone-x-35-percent-q4-2017-smartphone-profits/').
When Samsun's own Display division reported lackluster OLED sales for top-tier phones, analysts jumped to the conclusion that that phone was the iPhone X. Now we know it wasn't the case.
Well, Apple just told us the iPhone X is the best selling phone in Apple's lineup since release the best selling phone in China. Apple also has the top 3 best selling phones in Asia.
It's official, Apple is dominating and iPhone X was a HUGE "Superbowl" success. ;) [doublepost=1525273618][/doublepost]
I bought an S9. My fifth Android and first that feels as responsive (snappy) as an iPhone.
6 months after it released, the iPhone X is no longer in production smh.
False, fake news. It's the best selling iPhone every week since release. PRETTY sure they need to make it until the new phones drop. They don't have enough channel inventory until September to meet demand, lol.
iPhone X being out of the lineup in September will have nothing to do with poor sales and everything to do with product positioning.
There will be FaceID phones OVER $999, so it's not because the X was starting at $999. [doublepost=1525275213][/doublepost]
Xiaomi is actually the most interesting part about this chart. They will soon be number 3.
Edit: why did MR cut off the year over year change from the chart? it was there a few minutes ago..
Edit2: and now they added it back, lol
It is interesting, but only as it relates to other budget Android. The "Others" y/y change are clearly the ones being hit by Xiaomi. They don't impact Apple, as predicted.
Remember folks, it's about the software/hardware integration. People that buy Apple phones want iOS so a cheap Android with similar hardware isn't going to compare.
The S9 is a complete flop ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/04/17/iphone-x-35-percent-q4-2017-smartphone-profits/').
When Samsun's own Display division reported lackluster OLED sales for top-tier phones, analysts jumped to the conclusion that that phone was the iPhone X. Now we know it wasn't the case.
If it is a flop that’s a shame. It’s a pleasure to use and has definite advantages over the X I had. I get much better call quality and the cameras on the S9+ are amazing. It records gorgeous videos in beautiful immersive stereo audio. The display is great and doesn’t give me eye strain due to flicker the way the one on the X did. It retains the headphone jack. It has fantastic water resistance. It comes in gorgeous colors.
It is possible it might start to lag in a few months. But my iPhone 7 Plus did after updates, too. So far it’s going strong for both me and my husband.
It really doesn’t deserve to flop. I was pretty salty on Samsung but the S9+ has reeled me back in again.
I don’t think the X deserved to flop, either. It wasn’t the right choice for me, but for a first generation of a new form factor that is debuting new technology, it seemed pretty polished. If it’s doing well, that’s very encouraging. I hope Apple refines and fixes a few issues it has and does well.
