Just like in 2023, a recent report by Counterpoint Research on the top 5 smartphone models sold in January 2024 paints a bleak picture for Android fans. The data, detailing smartphone models market share in eight major countries, reveals a startling trend that sees Apple’s iPhone 15 series dominate across the board.
Let’s take a closer look at the numbers. In the lucrative US market, iPhones take up all the top 5 spots, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max leading the pack at a staggering 18% all by itself followed by the iPhone 15 at 16%. The other three are the iPhone 15 Pro at 12%, iPhone 15 Plus at 6% and iPhone 14 at 5%. This leaves Android scrambling for scraps, with the highest-ranking model, likely a Samsung device, nowhere to be seen in the provided data.
The story isn’t much better elsewhere. China, often a battleground for local brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, sees iPhones take a commanding 12% cumulative share led by the iPhone 15 Pro Max at 5% and iPhone 15 Pro at 4%, same as the Huawei Mate 60 Pro. The standard iPhone 15 is in fourth place with 3% market share, same as the Honor X50 at 3%. Even traditionally Android-strong markets like India and Japan witnessed iPhones eating into market share. In India, the highest-ranked Android phone, the Redmi 13C 5G, managed a mere 5%, a far cry from the iPhone 15’s comfortable 17% lead in Japan. It gets even worse for Android in the Japanese market, where the iPhone 14 (13%), 15 Pro (7%) and iPhone SE (5%) are joined by only one Android device at 5% — the Google Pixel 7a. This unsurprising considering the phone helped Google to a whopping 527% market share in the country.
Europe isn’t much kinder. Major markets like Germany, France, and the UK see iPhones comfortably holding the top spots. While a glimmer of hope exists with Samsung’s Galaxy phones making some appearances, their share pales in comparison to the iPhone dominance.
There’s a lone bright spot for Android, though. In South Korea, Samsung’s home turf, the Galaxy S24 Ultra takes the top spot with 13% market share while the Galaxy S24 and S23 FE each have 7%. However, iPhones are still very much in the game, with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro capturing a combined 15% share.
This report serves as a wake-up call for Android manufacturers. While offering a wider range of devices at various price points, they seem to be struggling to compete with Apple’s premium offerings. With the iPhone 15 series seemingly offering top-notch performance, innovative features, and a long-lasting ecosystem, consumers are clearly voting with their wallets. Sure, the Galaxy S24 series has equally compelling performance and features, but it’s clear only folks in Samsung’s home country can relate.
