Counterpoint Research recently released its analysis of the US smartphone market for the first quarter of 2024. The report indicates an 8% year-over-year decline in shipments, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of decrease.
Apple maintained its market share at 52%, while Samsung saw a slight increase from 27% to 31%.
According to Jeff Fieldhack, Research Director for North America, Americans are delaying phone upgrades, leading to the decline in shipments compared to the first quarter of 2023. This trend is largely attributed to the high iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shipments in the previous year, which were not replicated by the iPhone 15 series. Additionally, shipments of Android devices in the sub-$300 price segment also declined.
The low-end market is experiencing consolidation, with fewer new product launches as manufacturers transition from LTE to 5G models in carrier channels. Maurice Klaehne, Senior Analyst, notes that the added costs associated with 5G connectivity present challenges for OEMs competing in the market.
