Research Institution: Apple Tops Global Smartphone Sales in Q1

According to data released by market research firm Counterpoint Research on Monday, Apple topped the global smartphone sales in Q1 this year, thanks to the launch of the iPhone 16e and strong demand in countries such as Japan and India.

The data showed that despite flat or declining sales in the US, Europe, and the Chinese market, Apple still captured 19% of the global market share, followed closely by Samsung with 18%.

These figures indicate that while Apple faced sales setbacks in the Chinese market due to competition from local producers like Huawei and the lack of AI features in iPhones, demand for iPhones remained strong in emerging markets.

Data from another research firm, IDC, revealed that global smartphone shipments grew by 1.5% in Q1, with Apple increasing its supply in advance to avoid potential new tariffs from US President Trump. IDC primarily tracks shipments rather than consumer sales.

Earlier media reports stated that to deliver products to the US before the new tariff policy by the Trump administration took effect, Apple chartered flights to airlift up to 600 mt of iPhones from India to the US, equivalent to 1.5 million units.

Trump's erratic tariff policies and escalating global trade tensions have led to turmoil in global financial markets, worsening economic prospects, and rising inflationary pressures over the past two weeks.

Apple is one of the tech giants whose stock price has fallen the most recently, with its shares down nearly 18% year-to-date as its supply chain is among the primary targets of Trump's tariff policies.

Last Friday, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued updated tariff rules, exempting import duties on categories including automatic data processors, computers, communication equipment, displays and modules, and semiconductor-related goods from "reciprocal tariffs."

This provided Apple with some breathing room, and its stock price surged significantly on Monday as a result.

Ryan Reith, Vice President of IDC's Worldwide Device Trackers, stated, "At this moment, the focus for US smartphone brands should be to seize this exemption opportunity and produce and ship as much as possible."