Apple Dominates Top Ten Best-Selling Smartphones List for 2022

[Apple_Robert]

It looks like a lot of people like carrying around iPhone luggage.

 

[SFjohn]

The fact remains that the top ten phones account for only a total share of less than 20%. There are a lot of other cheap phones out there, and consequently opportunity, but I doubt that Apple will ever be much interested in that low cost, low profitability segment.

But Apple is a monopoly, right? 😂😂😂

 

[ian87w]

Apple is getting there slowly with so many models.

Not at the level of the Android OEMs.

Imagine if Apple released 3 different iPhone SE models every 6 months, with only $10-$20 price difference between each models. That’s what these Chinese OEMs are doing.

 

[anthogag]

Samsucks 👎

 

[svish]

Excellent for Apple!! Good to see iPhone doing well across the world.

 

[wigby]

They really managed to convince the masses to spend much more than necessary on a smartphone. Imagine Mercedes was the car brand with the most sales. People became so addicted to their phones that they spend irrational amounts of money on it. Most people only have a few hundred dollar or less left every month after all expensive. So a $999 phone means spending the money of several months. I have seen unemployed people with the latest iPhone. Some even go into debt to buy one. And after two years they already feel the need to replace it.

People who go into debt over a $999 phone were going to go into debt for a TV, piece of furniture or camera too. At least a phone delivers much more value than most anything else you spend your money on. If users are really spending that much time on their phones then the phones should be even more expensive. If I'm spending half of my day, everyday on my phone, I wouldn't mind spending $2000 on the device.

 

[wigby]

They may be the most popular phones, but they still have a relatively low worldwide marketshare. There are hundreds of cheap android phones, and others.

Not really. The hundreds of cheap android phones accounted for 26% while Apple alone accounted for 25% worldwide in 2022. And these brands are disappearing everyday while Apple market share keeps growing.

The Apple iPhone had its largest global market share of all time during Q4 2022

The iPhone scored the highest global market share in the history of the product during the fourth quarter of 2022.

www.phonearena.com

 

[wanha]

I'm not surprised that the top phones are iPhones and Galaxy phones, but this really makes me miss the days when there were more manufacturers around. 😅 I never thought I'd miss HTC and LG phones, but at least they added variety (and occasionally interesting new features, and competition).

There's still a TON of mobile brands and manufacturers around, this is just the top 10 handsets by volume.

 

[wanha]

They may be the most popular phones, but they still have a relatively low worldwide marketshare. There are hundreds of cheap android phones, and others.

I remember when I worked for Nokia 2007-2012, the mantra was all about market share, and look how that worked out.

The two most important types of "shares" are:

1. Profit share
2. Mind share

Apple dominates them both.

Market share means nothing.

 

[wanha]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

Tell me you're deeply unhappy without telling me you're deeply unhappy.

 

[wanha]

Apple dominates the smart phone market much like humans dominate chickens.

8 of 10 phones on the global most sold list, and the other 2 are both entry-level, low-cost phones.

 

[GraXXoR]

well, yes, it was all over the business news. Many people upgraded from 6+7,8. That is why it was a boom in Japan. My daughter bought her an 11 instead of a 12 because the prices matched our needs. It was a good thing, she needed a new phone soon and Sept 15 arrive, it is all about timing (university students, high schools, etc. ) As for lost revenue that isn't true. In fact, there are even more phones in Tokyo, etc. than ever before. business use the iPhone SE. In fact, my better half company gave their executives iPhone SE a new edition. Hence some of that data is just misconstrued.

The estimated 69% revenue drop in two years is just something I read reported in Nikkei and Asahi Shinbun. But you’re right. It applies to the series 14 and pro phones. I was a bit loose with my definitions.

The previous generations’ 12, 13, SE and Mini continue to sell well. 14? Not so much.

 

[ian87w]

That A13 costs $250 and has a 90Hz display…

Calling it “ProMotion” and limiting anything above 60Hz to “pro” devices was a mistake. This is getting ridiculous.

Err, that 90Hz is just an LCD, with low color accuracy and slow response time, and brightness of mere 500nits. You sure you want that screen just so you can tag about 90Hz? I’ll take high quality and bright AMOLED anytime, even if it’s just 60Hz.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Err, that 90Hz is just an LCD, with low color accuracy and slow response time, and brightness of mere 500nits. You sure you want that screen just so you can tag about 90Hz? I’ll take high quality and bright AMOLED anytime, even if it’s just 60Hz.

Yeah OK fair point, like basically every Android phone it looks decent on paper but probably not in person.

Still, 60Hz displays look broken to me now. Maybe it’s a personal problem but man I would really love to see Apple standardize on at least 90Hz.

 

[Frantisekj]

They really managed to convince the masses to spend much more than necessary on a smartphone. Imagine Mercedes was the car brand with the most sales. People became so addicted to their phones that they spend irrational amounts of money on it. Most people only have a few hundred dollar or less left every month after all expensive. So a $999 phone means spending the money of several months. I have seen unemployed people with the latest iPhone. Some even go into debt to buy one. And after two years they already feel the need to replace it.

That is how addiction works. I am also semi addicted to it but usually getting last supported model used or refurbished with bonus from operator so it is 50-200 bucks max.

 

[compwiz1202]

Debt in and of itself isn't bad. It's a trade between tomorrow and today. In fact, in a high-inflation economy debt is your friend, because you're paying your purchase off with money that's worth less than it was worth today.

One difference betwen the rich and everyone else is their relationship with debt. Debt is just a tool.

Agree. Interest for debt and overextending can be bad.

 

[CarAnalogy]

The main US carriers allow you to spread the cost over 2-3 years, so you're looking at anywhere from $27 to $42 per month. The carriers normally allow you to turn it back in and restart your payment agreement on the new ones each year as well. This cost is at 0% and is not on your credit record. If you leave the carrier, the balance of the phone goes on your last bill.

In addition, Apple let's you do their iPhone Upgrade program, which is basically a leasing option to keep the latest/greatest each year if you utilize it. Otherwise, it's just 0% financing through a 3rd party bank that, I'm pretty sure, does go on your credit record.

Edit: In addition to that, Apple lets you finance through your Apple Card at 0% over 24 months as well - but this is basically a credit card, so it also adds to your credit balance.

Honestly, if you know with certainty you're going to switch every 1-2 years anyway, spreading the payments out at 0% is cheaper than buying outright for the new flagships - or heck, even the year old flagships with iPhones. Principally speaking I still prefer buying outright. But it's not necessarily the most cost effective way unless you keep your devices for awhile.

It’s literally a credit card but yes, if you make sure to never keep a balance on it and use it only for that 0% financing of the phone, and do the trade-in during the first three months or so while it still has any value, that’s probably the best way to buy the phone.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Debt in and of itself isn't bad. It's a trade between tomorrow and today. In fact, in a high-inflation economy debt is your friend, because you're paying your purchase off with money that's worth less than it was worth today.

One difference betwen the rich and everyone else is their relationship with debt. Debt is just a tool.

They key difference between the rich and everyone else is that they are borrowing money they don’t actually have to borrow in order to get a better deal. Those deals are financed by the ones who can’t actually afford to borrow the money but do it anyway and wind up paying much more. At least that’s how it works with credit cards.

I understand why but it’s awfully convenient that the system only works for you if you have extra money.

 

[compwiz1202]

They key difference between the rich and everyone else is that they are borrowing money they don’t actually have to borrow in order to get a better deal. Those deals are financed by the ones who can’t actually afford to borrow the money but do it anyway and wind up paying much more. At least that’s how it works with credit cards.

I understand why but it’s awfully convenient that the system only works for you if you have extra money.

Yea it's ones who don't need it that get the 0%. They say they charge more interest due to more risk, but you actually make it more risky by doing it.

 

[Scotticus]

Hey MacRumors! I don't see the 14 Plus on that Top Ten list! Could you please write 100 articles about how people don't want large phones, just like you did with the Mini?

 

[JapanApple]

The estimated 69% revenue drop in two years is just something I read reported in Nikkei and Asahi Shinbun. But you’re right. It applies to the series 14 and pro phones. I was a bit loose with my definitions.

The previous generations’ 12, 13, SE and Mini continue to sell well. 14? Not so much.

Buy season is coming soon, and reports always reflect it. The upcoming months will reflect.

 

[_Spinn_]

Wow, this is very impressive.

 

[Frantisekj]

In Japan, the iPhone 12 was the biggest selling smartphone of all time. Since 2021, though, Japan has lost 69% of its total iPhone sales revenue due to pricing... And the iPhone 12 continues to be the most popular device, followed by the SE the mini and then the 13. The iPhone 14 models are well, well down the list over here.

People are just not willing to pay $1300 for an iPhone Pro with the least amount of usable memory (256 GB) the same as a device that was sold 5 years ago for less than half the price of today's pro models.

Even Japanese technoheads have their spend limits, and Apple has crossed them... in spades.

Looking for something I unintentionally found TOP 50 list for phone on our shopping search engine. I was nicely surprised iPhones occupy 1.,2.,4. spots and 5 in TOP 10 and nine in TOP 20. Most surprised I was with 13 mini of 4th position while 12 mini close the TOP 50. We are little 10 mil country.

 

[GraXXoR]

Buy season is coming soon, and reports always reflect it. The upcoming months will reflect.

Because the Holiday season was off season… nobody shops during the holidays… got it.