Omdia’s new “Smartphone Model Market Tracker – 2Q23” report reveals that the iPhone 14 Pro Max was the most shipped smartphone around the globe in the first half of 2023, January-to-June period.
Launched in September 2022, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the highest-end model of the iPhone 14 series. In an effort to widen the gap between the standard and pro models, Apple introduced several premium features in the high-end 6.7-inch model like an advanced A16 Bionic chip built on a second-generation 5nm process, the Always-On display with 120Hz refresh rate, redesigned notch with Dynamic Island, larger battery, 48MP Main camera, and more.
Although similar advanced features are available in the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro for $100 less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max starting at $1099, the buying trend shows consumers prefer larger displays and are willing to pay more.
Success of iPhone 14 Pro Max in 1H23 shows users do not care about Samsung’s fold design in Galaxy Z Flip
According to the report, the top four most shipped smartphones were iPhones in the first half of 2023.
- iPhone 14 Pro Max with 26.5 million shipments
- iPhone 14 Pro with 21.0 million shipments
- iPhone 14 with 16.5 million shipments
- iPhone 13 with 15.5 million shipments
Galaxy A14 was Samsung’s most-shipped smartphone with 12.4 million shipments at no. 5 and Galaxy S23 Ultra at no. 6 with 9.6 million shipments.
But Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 were no were on the charts. Even the iPhone 11, launched four years ago, made it on the Global Top 10 most shipped smartphones chart with 6.9 million shipments.
The company vehemently markets its fold design in Galaxy Z Flip, the larger display of Galaxy Z Fold, and Space Zoom shots as selling factors to Apple users to jump over the fence to its side.
However, the latest ranking shows that consumers do not care for fold design, larger display than the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, and higher zoom for moon shots. They happily pay for the iPhone’s old slab design, display size, and camera in spite of stifling economic conditions. Maybe, it’s time for Samsung to focus on its technology rather than Apple.
The global smartphone market is recording negative growth as the mid- to low-end market shrinks due to economic recession and the expansion of the used smartphone market. On the other hand, the premium smartphone market is steadily increasing because replacement demand for Apple’s premium models remains solid. In addition, as the preference for Apple increases as a premium smartphone, especially within emerging markets, the sales volume and proportion of high-end models such as Pro and Max continue to increase among Apple’s iPhone series. – Omdia
