Samsung overtakes Apple by a hair to become world's largest smartphone maker in Q1 2023

Tech firm Samsung has reclaimed the top spot from Apple as the world's largest smartphone maker in Q1 2023.

Top 5 mobile brands based on estimated (sell-in) shipments

Samsung back on top

According to a recent report from Canalys, Samsung shipped 22 percent of the pie, or 60.3 million units shipped despite a negative 18 percent growth in the period. At very close number 2 is Apple with 21 percent and a positive 3 percent growth and 58.0 million units shipped.

To recap, Apple is number 1 in Q4 2022 thanks to the strong numbers of its iPhone 14 Series.

Apple, Xiaomi, and OPPO complete the top 5 with 11, 10, and 8 percent, respectively. The 3 Chinese mobile makers all experienced a decline during the quarter. Xiaomi fell the hardest with negative 22 percent growth.

Note that OPPO's market share includes OnePlus. Xiaomi includes its sub-brand POCO.

Canalys shared that the global smartphone market declined by 13 percent despite early signs of recovery emerging.

Top 5 mobile brands based on estimated (sell-in) shipments (Q1 2023)

1. Samsung - 22 percent (60.3 million)

2. Apple - 21 percent (58.0 million)

3. Xiaomi - 11 percent (30.5 million)

4. OPPO - 10 percent (26.6 million

5. vivo - 8 percent (20.9 million)

Top 5 smartphone brands in China

In China, Apple is surprisingly at number 1 with 20 percent of the market share. OPPO is at number 2 with 19 percent, vivo at number 3 with 17 percent, HONOR at number 4 with 14 percent, and Xiaomi with 13 percent at number 5.

Tech titan HUAWEI is not included in HONOR's market share.

To read the full report of Canalys, check our sources below.

Sources: Canalys 1, 2