Apple's iPhone 15 has won its place in the world's best-selling smartphone in 2024. Market research reports suggest Apple dominated global smartphone sales, garnering a whopping seven iPhone models in the list of the world's top 10 best-selling smartphones for the year. Apple's closest competitor was Samsung, but it was this iPhone 15 that went on to capture the heart of the globe.
iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 was the most sold smartphone in 2024, accounting for almost 3% of Apple's global sales. Canalys and Counterpoint Research reports revealed that the immense popularity of the iPhone 15 was mainly driven by its sales in the US and China, which together accounted for almost half of the global sales.
The iPhone 15 starts at Rs 69,900 in India and may entice consumers seeking premium Apple technology at competitive pricing. The seamless design, advanced camera features, powerful A16 Bionic chip, and the USB-C connectivity introduced, along with many other advancements, played an important role in the success of this smartphone among new and existing iPhone users.
Apple’s Domination in the Smartphone Market
Apple did not only take the first place but dominated the whole the best-selling top 10 with seven of its models included in the list. Here are some of the iPhone models included in this list:
iPhone 15 – The best-selling smartphone of 2024.
iPhone 16 Pro Max – Ranked second in sales according to Canalys.
iPhone 15 Pro Max – The third-best-selling smartphone of the year.
iPhone 16 Pro – Another strong contender in the premium segment.
iPhone 15 Pro – Continued to attract buyers despite newer releases.
iPhone 16 – Strong sales across multiple markets.
iPhone 13 – Still popular due to its affordability and performance.
Apple captured 18% of the global market share, shipping around 225.9 million iPhones worldwide in 2024.
Samsung
While Apple dominated the market, Samsung was still at the second spot in the world's smartphone sales. The South Korean tech giant shipped 222.9 million units of its Galaxy smartphones across the globe in 2024.
Samsung managed to place three of its models in the top 10 best-selling smartphones list:
Samsung Galaxy A15 – Samsung’s best-selling smartphone globally, priced at Rs 17,999 in India.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – The premium flagship device that gained massive traction.
Another Galaxy model – Which contributed to Samsung’s strong global presence.
Global Smartphone Market in 2024
In 2024, the global smartphone market remained competitive beyond the dominance of Apple and Samsung, with several other manufacturers making significant strides.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi further consolidated its position as the third-largest smartphone brand in the world, garnering 14% market share. The company shipped 168.6 million units worldwide, retaining its strong grip in emerging markets. The success of Xiaomi was mainly based on its capacity to provide feature-rich smartphones at affordable prices, making it the first choice of budget-conscious customers.
TRANSSION and OPPO
Right behind Xiaomi, TRANSSION and OPPO grabbed the fourth and fifth positions globally in smartphone sales, thus testifying to the growing influence they are gaining within the industry. TRANSSION has gained significant ground in regions like Africa and South Asia, having shipped 106.7 million units, further proving its expanded presence. In contrast, OPPO followed very closely with 103.6 million units sold globally, while maintaining its reputation for sleek designs, innovative camera technology, and competitive pricing.
As competition increases, these brands continue to innovate, offering consumers more choices and driving innovation in the smartphone industry.
Why Did the iPhone 15 Become the Best-Selling Smartphone?
The iPhone 15 stormed the smartphone market, becoming the best-selling device of the year. Its success was driven by a combination of strong demand, competitive pricing, powerful features, and Apple's unmatched brand loyalty.
Strong Demand in the US and China
Two of the largest markets for Apple are the US and China, where nearly half of the global sales were reported for the iPhone 15. In these regions, users have displayed significant brand loyalty as most of the consumers tend to upgrade to the latest model because of the ecosystem lock-in effect. Seamless experience between iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Apple services like iCloud and iMessage makes it hard for users to switch brands, further boosting sales.
Competitive Pricing That Hits the Sweet Spot
This is where Apple carefully positioned the iPhone 15 with a Rs 69,900 price tag in India, making it a premium product yet affordable for a lot of buyers. Well, the Pro variants are, of course, more expensive, but the standard iPhone 15 does a pretty good job balancing out all these flagship features at a pocket-friendly price, neither exceeding the budget nor burdening the buyer's pocket.
Powerful Features That Stand Out
Going beyond brand reputation, the iPhone 15 hit a home run in terms of feature appeal that struck both geeks and laypeople. With its A16 Bionic chip, it gave off top-shelf performance so the device could always be as fast and efficient as possible. With the advent of the USB-C port, there was much-welcomed convenience in more accessory compatibility. Also, it's an excellent photography device since the camera has great capabilities with multiple lighting settings.
Apple’s Marketing and Brand Loyalty
The marketing strategies and strong brand presence of Apple played a crucial role in making the iPhone 15 a best-seller. The company creates hype and anticipation before launching a product, which is coupled with the trust built over the years, bringing back customers. Tight integration of hardware and software provides a smooth and optimized user experience, making iPhones highly desirable year after year.
All these factors put together made the iPhone 15 the go-to smartphone for millions, proving once again why Apple is still at the top of the game.
The year 2024 was yet another year of dominance for Apple in the smartphone industry, with the iPhone 15 leading as the best-selling smartphone globally. With seven iPhone models in the top 10 list, Apple proved that its brand power and technological innovations continue to captivate consumers worldwide.
Samsung also remained a strong competitor. It was followed by Xiaomi, TRANSSION, and OPPO, which also show the dynamic nature of the global smartphone market. Apple will definitely continue its hold in 2025 with the launch of iPhone 16 series.
Watch for more updates on the latest smartphone trends and market insights!
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