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Apple Secures Leading Position in Smartphone Market Amid Trade Challenges
In a recent report by Counterpoint Research, Apple has emerged as the frontrunner in global smartphone sales for the first quarter, largely driven by the successful launch of the iPhone 16 and increasing demand in markets like Japan and India.
According to the data, Apple captured 19 percent of the global smartphone market. This achievement is notable even as the company faced stagnating or declining sales figures in core regions such as the United States, Europe, and China. Following Apple is Samsung, which holds an 18 percent market share.
Moreover, the International Data Corporation (IDC) reported a modest increase of 1.5 percent in global smartphone shipments during the same period. In light of impending tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Apple proactively arranged for air cargo transport, moving approximately 600 tons of iPhones (around 1.5 million units) from India to the U.S. to mitigate the effects of these tariffs.
The uncertain trade landscape, characterized by fluctuating tariffs and escalating global trade tensions, has created a volatile environment for financial markets over the past two weeks, contributing to a pessimistic economic forecast and potential inflationary pressures.
In a significant development, Trump’s decision to remove smartphones and certain electronics from the list of products subjected to reciprocal duties on China has provided a temporary boost to global technology stocks. This has sparked optimism within the industry.
Ryan Reith, the group vice president of worldwide device trackers at IDC, commented on the situation, stating, “The recent exemption by the US government pausing smartphone import tariffs from China offers temporary relief for US companies, but heavy reliance on China’s supply chain persists amid ongoing tariff volatility.” He added that U.S. smartphone brands should capitalize on the current exemption by maximizing production and shipping efforts.
Despite the challenges, Counterpoint’s analysis anticipates a potential decline in the overall smartphone market this year, primarily due to uncertainties surrounding tariffs. However, brands like Xiaomi are continuing to gain traction, maintaining their position in third place, while Vivo and OPPO follow in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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