The main topic of the article is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and its position in the foldable smartphone market.
Key points include:
- The growth of the foldable smartphone market, with foldable shipments increasing 64% year-on-year in Q1 2023.
- The increasing competition in the foldable smartphone market, with more companies releasing their own foldable devices.
- The appeal of the Galaxy Z Fold 5's large screen and improved hardware, including a thinner design and upgraded chip.
- The trade-offs of the form factor, such as the device's size and narrow external screen.
- The improvements in battery life, camera performance, and software experience.
- The high price of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the potential impact of competition on pricing.
Apple's iPhone sales in China have surpassed those in the United States for the first time, contributing to Apple potentially becoming the biggest player in the smartphone market this year, despite global smartphone shipments being on track to be the worst in a decade due to economic headwinds in China and the US, according to Counterpoint Research.
The global smartphone market is expected to decline, but IDC predicts that Apple's iPhone market share will reach an all-time high due to trade-in deals, buy-now-pay-later schemes, and enticing features in their upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Smartphone sales in the country declined in the second quarter, but at a slower rate, as consumers limited their spending due to high commodity prices, according to IDC.
The global smartphone market continues to decline, with a 6.6% drop in Q2 2023 and a 13.3% decline in the first half of the year compared to 2022, affecting different companies in different ways, with Samsung still leading but facing challenges from Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion.
The number of app downloads from the US App Store is declining, but developers are still making more money as users spend more within the apps they already have.
Huawei's Mate 60 Pro is making a comeback in the Chinese smartphone market, but analysts believe its chances of competing with Apple and Samsung globally are slim due to the lack of popular apps like Google Maps and the impact of US sanctions.
Apple's market value has dropped by 10% due to factors such as China's ban on the iPhone for government employees and competition from a Chinese rival, leading to concerns about slowing growth and the need for new products with high growth potential.
Apple's recent stock decline due to Chinese government restrictions on iPhones and foreign-branded devices represents a buying opportunity, as China's past restrictions have not significantly impacted sales and Apple's attractive valuation and strong prospects suggest a rebound.
Despite its age, Apple has managed to increase its share of smartphone sales by converting Android users and appealing to teenagers, with the iPhone now accounting for over 50% of smartphones sold in the US and claiming around 20% of global smartphone sales.
J.P. Morgan predicts that Apple's iPhone 15 could experience a sales decline due to the launch of Huawei's 5G Mate 60 Pro smartphone.
Apple has increased the prices of its latest iPhones in countries like China, Japan, and India, while keeping prices the same in the U.S., as it aims to target premium users and reinvigorate growth in key markets. Although the price hikes are mainly for higher storage options and the more expensive models, Apple has also implemented price cuts in certain regions to target budget-conscious consumers.
Samsung is currently holding its Discover fall sales event, offering discounts on smartphones, tablets, TVs, and more, making it a great time to purchase their latest devices at a lower price.
Samsung has caught up to Apple in terms of customer satisfaction in the US personal computer market, as revealed by ACSI's latest study, with both companies scoring 83 points; however, Samsung's customer service in India has been receiving negative feedback.
Samsung is the leading mobile phone brand in 95 countries, dominating the market share in many nations, although it struggles in China where it holds a tiny market share of 1.78%.
Apple is expected to increase its share of India's smartphone sales with the release of its high-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, projecting to account for 7% of all smartphone sales in the country from July to December, according to market researcher Counterpoint.
Chinese TV brands in India are facing a decline in market share as established players like LG and Samsung lower entry-level model prices and Chinese brands scale back their focus on low-margin product categories, leading to increased preference for mid-range and premium models from other brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony. Chinese brands may potentially exit or downsize their presence in the Indian television market.
The global smartphone market has experienced both growth and decline, with the number of active brands decreasing by two-thirds due to various factors such as the rise of Chinese brands, lack of R&D spending by local brands, and economic challenges. The decline has primarily affected local brands, while the competition from Tier-1 Chinese brands has intensified, offering better value for money. The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges faced by small brands.
The wait times for pre-ordered iPhone models in the U.S. have increased compared to previous years, while in China, wait times for the iPhone 15 quadrupled over the previous model due to fears about dampened demand from the introduction of Huawei's Mate 60 Pro 5G and the ban against using iPhones in certain government offices. However, the iPhone 15 line is still doing well in China, particularly the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is the most coveted model. Additionally, black market prices for the iPhone in China have remained restrained, indicating that many buyers are trading in their previous handsets, contributing to Apple's market dominance.
Samsung was the second-biggest smartphone brand in the US in Q2 2023 but sold fewer smartphones than Apple, with other Android brands performing poorly.
Google Pixel shipments in North America experienced significant growth in Q2 2023, doubling its market share to 4% while other smartphone brands saw drops in shipments, indicating Google's increasing traction in the market.
The North American smartphone market experienced its worst quarterly performance in over a decade, with a 22% decline in Q2 2023, but Google's Pixel phone sales increased by 59%, earning the company 4% of the market and making it the only company that survived unscathed.
Samsung Electronics is expected to experience an 80% decline in earnings for the third quarter, primarily due to the struggling semiconductor segment, while its display and smartphone units may see some improvement in margins.
In Q2 2023, Apple's iPhones dominated the global smartphone market with four models in the top four positions, surpassing Samsung's Galaxy phones, which struggled in the high-end segment, showing that Apple's quality outshines Samsung's quantity.
Apple's iPhone 15 is facing sales challenges in China, with a 4.5% decline compared to the iPhone 14, as competition from companies like Huawei impacts iPhone sales and market dominance.
Sales of Apple's iPhone 15 in China have been disappointing compared to its predecessor, with market analysts attributing this to weak consumption and the popularity of rival Huawei; however, in the US, the new iPhone is expected to show a double-digit rise in the first nine days of sales compared to 2022.
The global smartphone market contracted by 8% in the third quarter, reaching the lowest level in a decade, as demand for major brands like Apple and Samsung decreased in developed markets, according to data from Counterpoint Research.
The global smartphone market experienced a contraction of 8% in the third quarter, reaching its lowest level in a decade due to subdued demand for major brands like Apple and Samsung, which could impact upcoming earnings; however, there is hope that the market could recover in the last few months of the year with the release of the iPhone 15 lineup and the festive season in various regions.
The release of Huawei's Mate 60 Pro and a decline in iPhone sales in China have allowed Huawei to surpass Apple as the top-selling smartphone brand in the country, with analysts predicting that iPhone shipments will continue to decrease due to weak demand.
T-Mobile continues to dominate the US mobile internet market, outperforming Verizon and AT&T in download and upload speeds, latency, consistency, and 5G metrics, according to Ookla's Q3 2023 report.
Demand for Apple's iPhone 15 in China is weaker compared to last year's models, with sales down 4.5% due to competition from Huawei's new Mate 60 smartphone line and a floundering Chinese economy.
Overall global smartphone sales fell 8% in Q3, with Apple and Samsung losing market share to competing brands, but a rebound is expected in Q4 with the launch of the iPhone 15 and other holiday sales, according to Counterpoint Research.
The smartphone market is showing signs of recovery, with only a 1% decline in Q3 2023, but vendors should remain cautious due to geopolitical uncertainties and ongoing adjustments in sales channels and component inventories, according to a report by Canalys. Samsung maintained its position as the market leader, followed by Apple, while Xiaomi and Transsion experienced success in emerging markets. Huawei also made a strong comeback with the release of the Mate 60 series, although its availability is currently limited to China.
Samsung tops global smartphone market in Q3 2023 with a 20% market share, despite lower sales compared to the previous year, as the market begins to recover.
iOS accounted for 39% of all US smartphone customers in the past year, representing a slight increase from 2022 but a decrease compared to 2021 and 2020, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
Despite a 3% drop in smartphone shipments compared to last year, improved consumer confidence and the launch of high-profile smartphones are expected to drive positive growth ahead of the festive season in India, according to Canalys; Samsung, Xiaomi, and Vivo emerged as the top three smartphone vendors.
Samsung maintained its position as the biggest smartphone brand in the Indian market during Q3 2023 with 7.9 million shipments and an 18% market share, while most other brands experienced significant declines due to uncertain economic conditions and rising inflation.
The reason that iPhones don't outsell Android phones in the US is because iPhone users hold onto their phones for longer and upgrade less frequently compared to Android users, according to a report by CIRP.
The Thai smartphone market is expected to decline by double digits this year due to a weak economy and decreased consumer purchasing power, but is projected to improve in the fourth quarter with the release of new flagship phones.
