Apple seems to have dominated the global top 10 best-selling smartphone charts in 2023, capturing the first seven places in a row, according to data shared today by Counterpoint Research. Samsung occupied the last three spots in the global top 10, but no high-end Galaxy phones made it through.
Market watchers say this is the first time Apple earned the top seven positions in the global list of best-selling phones in one year. It achieved this by pushing Samsung Galaxy phones closer to the bottom of the list.
The best-selling phone of 2023 was the iPhone 14, which accounted for 3.9% of all phone sales. The 10th best-selling phone was the Galaxy A14 4G with a 1.3% market share.
The 8th and 9th places were also occupied by budget Samsung phones, including the Galaxy A14 5G (1.4% market share) and Galaxy A04e (1.3% share).
No mid-range or high-end Galaxy phones made it in the top 10, but that's nothing out of the ordinary. Samsung's low-cost Galaxy devices have almost always beat flagship phones in terms of sales figures in recent years.
The Galaxy A13 and A03 were also among the best-selling phones in 2022. And the Galaxy A12 topped the best-selling smartphone chart in 2021. In fact, the A12 was the only Samsung phone in the 2021 top-1o list.
Top 10 best-selling phones had a higher market share YoY
Interestingly, Counterpoint Research says the top 10 best-selling phones in 2023 had a combined market share higher by 1% year-on-year. The top 10 best-selling handsets — iPhones and Galaxy phones combined — covered 20% of the market last year, up from 19% in 2022.
The market watcher says iPhone sales were the highest in the USA and China. These regions made up half of Apple's smartphone sales in 2023. Apple's total sales year-on-year remained flat while the competition's declined.
As for Samsung occupying the 8th, 9th, and 10th places, the budget Galaxy A series achieved this thanks to its value proposition and widespread presence across various geographic and economic areas.
The Galaxy A14 5G was a hit in both India and the USA, while the LTE model and the lower-cost Galaxy A04e drove sales in markets including India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico.
Looking forward to the top 10 best-selling phones of 2024, Counterpoint Research expects a more diverse list of OEMs, including Chinese brands, to make the list.
