Apple's iPhone 14 was the bestselling smartphone of 2023, according to Counterpoint Research. Additionally, in a first, the Cupertino giant captured the first seven spots on the top 10 list, followed by Samsung bagging the rest.
Counterpoint said in its report that there have not been any other brands on the list since 2021.
The iPhone 14's rise to the top of smartphone sales was fueled by key markets — the United States and China — contributing half. Despite a slight dip in market share compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 contributed 19% of Apple's total iPhone sales for the year.
This shift in consumer preference was attributed to the allure of advanced features packed into the iPhone Pro variants, such as Dynamic Island, enhanced chipset capabilities, and a higher display refresh rate.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, which ranks fifth on the list, was the global bestseller in the October-December quarter of 2023. The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 were placed in sixth and seventh positions, respectively.
According to Counterpoint, Apple's strategic manoeuvring in emerging markets like India, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), played a pivotal role in maintaining its overall sales momentum.
"In 2023, India became the fifth smartphone market to exceed 10 million iPhone unit sales in a single year, highlighting the market’s growing importance for Apple. These factors contributed to the iPhone 15 series sales matching the performance of the iPhone 14 series in 2022," the research firm said.
It is also interesting to note that none of the "Plus" models from either the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 15 series was on the list. The iPhone 14 Plus was introduced as a replacement for the smaller iPhone 13 Mini which was also not meeting Apple's sales expectations.
iPhone 13, the oldest model on the list, gained the fourth position over the latest iPhone 15 series. This feat was reportedly achieved by year-over-year volume growth in markets like Japan and India.
While carrier promotions in Japan drove most of the sales in the country, huge discounts during the festive sales in India made the device a popular choice in the Indian market.
Surprisingly, none of Samsung's premium smartphones made it to the list, including the Galaxy S23 series which was released in early 2023. Only budget offerings like the Galaxy A14 5G, Samsung Galaxy A04e and A14 4G competed with the iPhones. The Galaxy A14 5G was also the bestselling smartphone in India in 2023.
"The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G secured the eighth place driven by high sales in the US and India. The only LTE-capable smartphones in the list, the Samsung Galaxy A04e and A14 4G secured the remaining two places thanks to their affordability driving sales in emerging markets like Brazil, India, Mexico and Indonesia," Counterpoint said.
Looking ahead, industry experts anticipate a paradigm shift in the composition of the top 10 best-selling smartphones for 2024. With Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) streamlining their product portfolios and the anticipated entry of Chinese brands into the fray, the landscape is poised for transformation.
Furthermore, the proliferation of 5G-exclusive models is expected to reshape the dynamics of the smartphone market, setting the stage for a new era of innovation and competition, the report added.
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