For the third quarter of 2024, Samsung as well as Apple remained the most active participants within the US smartphone market, with Apple’s shares amounting to 53%. Samsung, which came in second, managed 23 % only. All through the tough climate, Apple’s consistent execution reinforced its leadership in the industry.
Q3 Performance Overview
The weekly performance from July to September even when the combined smartphone shipments reduced by 5%, managed to unveil Apple’s Mores as the leading representative. Samsung on the other hand had 13% drop of units year on year shipment.
Comparing the shipments to that of Q1 in 2024, it is quite a contrast; because Sammy had just recently propelled shares to 31% and it was all thanks to the launch of its flagship lineup known as Galaxy S24 series. July saw the South Korean behemoth distribute its Z series foldable devices but they were dominated by mounting competition especially in the prepaid market.
Motorola emerged as a significant competitor for Samsung, being owned by Lenovo. The firm saw a healthy 21% increase in units year on year shipment, This driven by the popularity of company’s budget phone Moto G Play 2024.
Market Dynamics
Market Dynamics Together, Apple and Samsung together controlled 76% of the US smartphone market in Q3 2024. The consistent market share of Apple shows the firm’s eagerness to embrace the changes in the market. While its shipments decreased by up to 5% annually, the Apple strong ecosystem as well as customer loyalty played a significant role in maintaining its leadership. The forthcoming performance of the iPhone 16 series within the fourth quarter is expected to displace company trajectory that we already know of. Samsung’s struggles in the quarter offered Motorola to be in the quarter strengthened its position in the quarter. Motorola’s 14% market share is saying the highest ever, which is mostly due to its strategy of concentrating on more affordable devices. On the other hand, HMD and other brands that fall into the ‘others’ segment, managed to take only 10% of the market cumulatively.
Notable Growth and Challenges
Motorola’s 21% growth is indicative of a trend where consumers are gravitating toward low-end smartphones, all the more reason in these difficult economic times. This development puts the brand on the forefront when it comes to meeting the prepaid market demand an area that Samsung had recently started to face stiff competition towards meeting. Google has equally announced a 19% growth compared to the past year, as a result of launching almost all of its Pixel 9 series earlier than planned. But such growth has not so far resulted in market share reallocations, causing Google to still remain as part of the smaller players segment.
Perspective
It is evident from the report for Q3 2024 that the US smartphone ecosystem remains highly fragmented with Apple and Samsung being front-runners. There seems to be growth potential for mid-tier brands owing to increased sales of Motorola devices, however the bear market is positioned with structural barriers that inhibit small players.
As the year comes to an end, most of the focus will be on the performance of Apple Q4 particularly in terms of the iPhone 16 series impact, and also if Samsung can restore their momentum. Another will be the ongoing transformation of Motorola that is pursuing growth on its recent achievements.
