Global smartphone shipments rose 6.5% in the second quarter, according to IDC data, with generative AI smartphones expected to grow faster than any mobile innovation ever seen.
Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) was in top spot and Apple in second place in the past three months, which was the fourth quarter in a row where shipments had grown, IDC said, but demand remains "challenged in many markets".
While the top five companies all made year-over-year gains, "we are seeing increasing competition amongst the leaders and a polarization of price bands", said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team.
"As Apple and Samsung both continue to push the top of the market and benefit the most from the ongoing premiumization trend, many leading Chinese OEMs are increasing shipments in the low end in an attempt to capture volume share amid weak demand," she said.
Samsung had an 18.9% share of shipments in the second quarter, Apple 15.8% and Xiaomi in third with a 14.8% share.
There is "lots of excitement" in the market, said Popal, with AI-powered smartphones expected to grab 19% a market share this year, "faster than any mobile innovation we have seen to date".