The iPhone 14 Pro Max emerged as the most-shipped smartphone worldwide in the first half of 2023, according to the latest estimates. Apple reportedly shipped 26.5 million units of its most expensive phone.
The company’s smaller iPhone 14 Pro came in as the second-most-shipped smartphone globally, followed by the regular iPhone 14.
Demand for pro iPhones increases
Tech market research company Omdia estimates Apple shipped 21 million units of the iPhone 14 Pro and and 16.5 million units of iPhone 14 in the first six months of the year. Interestingly, with 33.7 million units shipped, the iPhone 13 was the top-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2022.
So, Apple shipped 7.2 million fewer units of the iPhone 14 this year. But it saw a rise in demand for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. (In 2022, the iPhone 13 Pro Max took second place with 23 million units shipped.)
2021’s iPhone 13 came in fourth this year, with 15.5 million units shipped. Samsung’s budget-oriented Galaxy A14 took fifth place with 12.4 million units shipped. The company’s flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra came in sixth with 9.6 million shipped. Interestingly, the Galaxy S22 Ultra occupied the same slot in 2022, though the S23 Ultra’s total shipments are down by 0.2 million units.
Photo: Omdia
Apple seems unaffected by slowdown in smartphone sales
Samsung and Apple combined dominated the top 10, with five phones from both companies making it to the list.
Given the slowdown in smartphone sales and economic downturn, the $1,099-plus iPhone 14 Pro Max occupying the top spot is impressive. The smartphone market is currently going through a slump, with shipments declining worldwide. This shows how resilient the demand for iPhones is.
Omdia expects iPhone shipments for the entirety of 2023 to remain the same as last year or decline slightly. But the research firm expects Apple to ship more Pro and Pro Max models this year, pushing the iPhone’s average selling price higher. Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro could get more expensive by $100 or more this year, which could further increase the ASP. And with declining sales of Samsung smartphones, Apple could surpass the Korean company to become the world’s biggest smartphone-maker in 2023.
