Apple Inc has been reported to now be the best-selling smartphone company in 2023 in the global smartphone market, knocking Samsung off the top spot for the first time in 12 years.
According to the data from the International Data Corporation, the American phone giant accounted for more than a fifth of close to 235 million phones shipped last year.
Samsung took 19.4% of the market share with Chinese phone makers Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion following behind.
Smartphone sales have been faltering as many people upgraded in the pandemic.
The IDC also reported that almost 1.2 billion smartphones were sold last year, which is a drop of more than 3% on the previous year.
It is the lowest amount sold in a decade, with many consumers tightening their purse strings in the face of economic challenges and high interest rates. Experts predict the market will recover this year.