Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max leads global smartphone shipments, users are increasingly switching to top models

According to a report by research company Omdia, Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max was the best-selling smartphone in the first half of 2023, with sales of 26.5 million units. It is followed by the iPhone 14 Pro, which has sold 21 million units, CNBC reports.

In addition, Apple generally dominates the top four best-selling models: The iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 sold 16.5 million and 15.5 million units, respectively.

Last year, the iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone, indicating that consumers are leaning toward flagship devices, but at an entry-level. This year, however, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple’s most expensive offering, has taken the lead. This indicates a growing trend among consumers to favor higher-end models, despite the overall stagnation in smartphone innovation.

Samsung’s Galaxy A14 and Galaxy S23 Ultra took fifth and sixth place in the best-selling smartphones ranking with 12.4 million and 9.6 million units, respectively. Interestingly, no device from Chinese manufacturers made it to the top 10, as Chinese smartphone shipments have experienced a double-digit decline since 2022 due to the downturn in the mid- and low-end smartphone market.

As Apple prepares to launch the new iPhone 15 this fall, Omdia predicts that total iPhone shipments may remain flat or slightly decrease. However, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to continue to grow due to strong demand for premium models. Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline by 6% year-on-year, the worst performance in a decade.