Global smartphone shipments grew 5% year-on-year in Q3 2024, reaching 309.9 million units, the strongest Q3 performance since 2021, according to Canalys. The increase was fueled by new launches from leading brands that encouraged users to upgrade.
► Total of 310 million units shipped
► Samsung and Apple continue to lead
With 57.5 million shipments, Samsung led the way while Apple retained second place with a record 54.5 million units, driven by the iPhone 16 series’ strong debut in emerging markets from narrower hardware gaps between base and Pro models. Xiaomi held third with 42.8 million units and a 14% market share.
Canalys said that Apple achieved record Q3 shipments, driven by a strategic blend of channel and supply chain optimisations Diversified production has significantly reduced lead times for the firm. The analyst also noted that intense competition in the low-end market has persisted. This, along with rising component costs and channel saturation are driving vendors to focus on mid-tier growth in emerging markets.
