Counterpoint: US smartphone sales keep declining, Apple still comfortably on top

Counterpoint Research posted its analysis of the smartphone market in the United States for the first three months of 2024. According to the report, shipments declined 8% on a yearly basis, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of YoY decline.

Apple's market share remained flat, with 52% of all sales going to Cupertino, while Samsung slightly increased its share from 27% to 31%.

Americans do not want to upgrade their phones yet, revealed Jeff Fieldhack, Research Director for North America. Shipments are down, compared with Q1 2023 mostly because of high iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shipments back then that the 15 series couldn't replicate. Android shipments in the sub-$300 segments saw declines as well.

The low-end market continues to see consolidation and new product launches keep decreasing as makers are phasing out LTE phones for 5G models in carrier channels. The added costs of 5G connectivity makes it challenging for OEMs to compete, said Maurice Klaehne, Senior Analyst.

Counterpoints predicts we'll see signs of a recovery in Q3. That's when new launches can stimulate demand, and there will also be seasonal growth driven by holidays and new phones with generative AI features, such as the iPhone 16 devices.

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