Smartphone market slows worldwide, Apple and Samsung still lead the pack

The big picture: The global smartphone market grew by just 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Shipments reached 296.9 million units during the first three months of the year and while growth is growth, Q1 2025 became the third consecutive quarter in which growth slowed. Market research firm Canalys cited several reasons for the continued sluggishness in the smartphone industry. The most recent replacement cycle has come to an end and with uncertainty in the global economic landscape, several vendors are being more cognizant with regard to inventory levels. Samsung narrowly edged out Apple for the number one spot with 60.5 million units shipped in Q1, good for a 20 percent market share but just one percent growth compared to the same period a year earlier. Apple shipped 55 million iPhones, capturing 19 percent of the market. Strong growth in the US and Asia Pacific markets helped Apple grow its market share by 13 percent year over year. Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo rounded out the t ... Read full article.