Apple has lost the title of the world’s top phone maker, overtaken by Samsung.
This latest development is according to a research firm IDC. It also disclosed that Apple experienced a nearly 10% decline in smartphone sales during the first quarter of 2024 due to heightened competition from Android smartphone makers vying for market dominance.
Between January and March, shipments of smartphones worldwide rose 7.8% to 289.4 million devices, with Samsung overtaking Apple as the leading phone maker with a 20.8% market share.
The sharp drop in sales for the iPhone manufacturer follows a great quarter in which it surpassed Samsung to become the world’s top phone manufacturer. With a 17.3% market share, it has returned to the second position as Chinese companies like Huawei increase their market share.
One of the leading smartphone manufacturers in China, Xiaomi, came in third place in the first quarter with a 14.1% market share.
Samsung And How It Has Been Thriving
Over 60 million phones were supplied by the South Korean company Samsung during the period after the company launched its most recent flagship smartphone range, the Galaxy S24 series, at the beginning of the year.
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According to data source Counterpoint, within the first three weeks of the Galaxy S24 series’ availability, global sales of smartphones increased by 8% in comparison to the Galaxy S23 series of the previous year.
Apple iPhone Sales In China Before And Now
IDC says that Apple delivered 50.1 million iPhones in the first quarter, compared to 55.4 million units during the same period last year.
In comparison to a year earlier, Apple’s smartphone shipments to China decreased by 2.1% in the last quarter of 2023.
The decline highlights the difficulties the American company is having in its third-largest market, where several Chinese businesses and government organizations ban employee access to Apple devices. This practice is similar to the American government restrictions on Chinese apps due to security concerns.
At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, the Cupertino, California-based company will highlight updates to software for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products.
Investors are keeping a close watch on Apple’s artificial intelligence research efforts, as the company has not disclosed many details about how it plans to integrate AI technology into its products.
Microsoft surpassed the company earlier this year to take the title of most valuable company in the world.
How Apple Warned Its Users in 92 Countries Of Possible ‘Mercenary Spyware’ Attack
iPhone maker, Apple Inc., recently sent out a message to its users in 92 countries warning that they may have been targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.
“Attackers remotely tried to compromise the iPhone,” Apple said in a notification email that was sent to targeted users and seen by Reuters.
The company had previously said on its website that its threat notifications were designed to inform and assist users who might have been targeted by “state-sponsored attackers.”
- “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-.
- “This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously,” it wrote in the warning to affected customers.
The Threat
Apple’s latest update on their website said threat notifications were designed to help users “who might have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.”
It also noted that such attacks have been historically associated with state actors, including private companies developing mercenary spyware on their behalf, such as Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm, NSO Group.
Guidance For All iPhone Users
While advising those who have received the alert to seek expert help, such as the rapid-response emergency security assistance provided by the Digital Security Helpline at the non-profit Access Now, Apple also provides general safety guidelines for all iPhone users.
According to the company, all users should continue to protect themselves from general cybercriminals and consumer malware by following best practices for security:
- It urges users to update devices to the latest software, as that includes the latest security fixes
- It also urges them to protect devices with a passcode
- It likewise told users to use two-factor authentication and a strong password for Apple ID
- Users should install apps from the App Store
- They should use strong and unique passwords online
- It urges users to not click on links or attachments from unknown senders
It further warned that Apple threat notifications will never ask users to click any links, open files, install apps or profiles, or provide their Apple ID password or verification code by email or on the phone.
