Within an Apple store in Marunouchi, Tokyo, a customer is seen inspecting the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
An image credit to Stanislav Kogiku | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images
The iPhone 14 Pro Max emerged as the most popular smartphone in the first half of this year, according to research firm Omdia. This signifies a shift in consumer preferences towards high-end devices, while the demand for low to mid-range phones has declined.
During the January-to-June period, Apple shipped 26.5 million units of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, making it the highest-selling model compared to any other manufacturer. The iPhone 14 Pro secured the second spot with 21 million unit shipments.
These figures are part of Omdia’s “Smartphone Model Market Tracker – 2Q23” report, which tracks the sales of various phone models.
Apple dominated the top four positions, with the iPhone 14 ranking third with 16.5 million units sold, and the iPhone 13 selling 15.5 million units.
There has been a notable shift in the distribution of market share among these phones.
Last year, the iPhone 13 was the highest-selling device, indicating that consumers were gravitating towards flagship devices at the entry level. However, this year, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple’s most expensive offering, has taken the lead.
This reflects the growing trend of consumers leaning towards the higher-end segment of the market.
While phones haven’t witnessed significant transformations in recent years, manufacturers have focused on incremental upgrades, primarily in camera technology and processing power.
This strategy has resulted in a sense of apathy among consumers towards smartphones, despite their essential status in both work and personal life.
Moreover, the exorbitant prices, surpassing $1,000, attached to flagship phones by companies like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, have deterred many individuals from purchasing them.
As a result, people are holding onto their devices for longer periods and waiting until circumstances necessitate a replacement, such as when the phone breaks.
However, there is a notable willingness among consumers to pay a premium for the most advanced features available in these high-end devices.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 secured the fifth spot in terms of sales, shipping 12.4 million units in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung’s flagship model, emerged as the sixth-best performer, with 9.6 million unit shipments.
Omdia’s report states that Chinese smartphone manufacturers did not feature in the top 10 best-selling smartphones. This can be attributed to a decline in shipments of Chinese phones in 2022, primarily due to a slump in the mid to low-end market.
These numbers provide valuable insights into consumer sentiment, especially as Apple prepares to launch its new iPhone 15 in the upcoming autumn season.
Omdia predicts that Apple’s overall iPhone shipments may remain stagnant or experience a slight decline this year. However, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to witness continued growth due to their appeal to consumers seeking premium devices.
According to earlier data from Omdia, global smartphone shipments are expected to decline by 6% compared to the previous year, representing the worst performance in a decade.
On Monday, Apple shares experienced a 0.5% increase. The company’s stock has risen approximately 37.5% year to date.
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