Counterpoint Research published its analysis of the United States smartphone market for the first three months of 2024. According to the report, shipments fell 8% year over year, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline.
Apple's market share remained flat, with 52% of all sales going to Cupertino, while Samsung slightly increased its share from 27% to 31%.
Americans don't want to upgrade their phones yet, revealed Jeff Fieldhack, research director for North America. Shipments are down, compared to the first quarter of 2023, mainly due to high iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shipments at the time that the 15 series couldn't replicate. Android shipments in the sub-$300 segments also saw a decline.
The low-end market continues to see consolidation and new product launches continue to decline as makers phase out LTE phones for 5G models in carrier channels. The additional costs of 5G connectivity make it challenging for OEMs to compete, says Maurice Klaehne, Senior Analyst.
Counterpoints predicts that we will see signs of recovery in the third quarter. That's when new launches can drive demand, and there will also be seasonal growth, driven by holidays and holidays new phones with generative AI functions, such as the iPhone 16 devices.