Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max was the best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2024, a report has shown.
Apple and Samsung dominated the top 10 best-selling smartphones list during the same period, figures compiled by Counterpoint Research show.
The two manufacturers captured five positions each, leaving no spot for other brands.
This was the first quarter in which the top 10 smartphones were all 5G capable, Counterpoint said.
Three variants of the iPhone 15 took the top three spots, while another, the iPhone 15 Plus, was the eighth best seller.
The iPhone 14, in fourth position, was the other top performer for Apple, the rankings show.
Samsung's best performer was the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which was the fifth most sold phone in the quarter.
The base Galaxy S24 model came in ninth.
Three other Samsung models – the Galaxy A15 5G, Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 – placed sixth, seventh and tenth respectively.
“Consumers are holding onto their smartphones for longer periods because upgrades are offering limited differentiation in features,” Counterpoint Research said.
“This leads consumers to opt for high-end smartphones to ensure their devices remain technologically relevant for a longer duration.”
Global smartphone revenue hit a new high in the first quarter of 2024, led by Apple and higher sales in key regions around the world, a separate study this month by Counterpoint Research showed.
Revenue in the industry jumped 7 per cent to reach its highest level for a March quarter. However, Counterpoint did not provide estimates on the actual value of the revenue.
Smartphone manufacturers typically do not report a breakdown of their sales. Apple's iPhone sales in the first quarter are estimated at around $69.7 billion, according to industry analysts.
Apple commanded 41 per cent of first-quarter revenue as it also posted its highest first-quarter average selling price of $900, up from $880 a year ago, it added.
Samsung Electronics came in at second with an 18 per cent share, followed by Xiaomi and Oppo, with 6 per cent each, and Vivo with 4 per cent. The four companies’ ASPs were $336, $159, $257 and $211, respectively.
The trend towards premium was evident, with seven of the top 10 smartphones being in that category, with the wholesale price at $600 and above, Counterpoint said in its latest report.
“Going forward, we expect the top 10 best-selling smartphones to capture a larger share of total smartphone sales as original equipment manufacturers are focusing on leaner portfolios with premium features, including Generative AI,” the report added.
The Pro Max variant achieved the top position for the first time in Apple’s non-seasonal quarter, reflecting an increasing trend of consumer preference for high-end smartphones, the study found.
The growing popularity of the Apple Pro line-up was evident, as it captured half of Apple’s total sales in the first quarter of 2024, a significant increase from 24 per cent in the same period in 2020, according to Counterpoint research.
“The Pro iPhones have become major revenue drivers for Apple, contributing more than 60 per cent of its sales value in the first quarter of this year,” the consultancy said.
“The Pro line-up offers substantial upgrades and significant enhancements over the base models. This strategic move has proven successful, as consumers are willing to pay for premium features.”
Meanwhile, the strong performance of the S24 series can be attributed to Samsung’s early refresh of the series and its efforts in generative AI technology.
“The S24 series was the first to reach the market with GenAI features and capabilities, allowing users to create unique content and experience a new level of interaction with their smartphones,” the report said.
Best-selling smartphones in first quarter of 2024
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 14
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Galaxy A15 5G
- Galaxy A54
- iPhone 15 Plus
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy A34
First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
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Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
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PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
THE SPECS
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Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
