Counterpoint Research·2025-12-11 01:42Core Insights - The article discusses the smartphone market trends and shipment volumes, highlighting the performance of major brands in the U.S. market for Q3 2025 and the impact of various economic factors on these trends [4][8][11]. Market Highlights - Despite ongoing tariff issues, U.S. smartphone shipments saw a slight year-on-year increase in Q3 2025, attributed to a rise in imports from Vietnam and India, compensating for the decline in imports from China [8][11]. - Apple experienced a decline in market share both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, yet maintained growth in annual shipments due to strong performance from the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17 series shipments remained stable but faced challenges from strong demand [8][11]. - Samsung's market share saw a minor increase of 1 basis point year-on-year but a decrease of 3 basis points quarter-on-quarter, primarily due to strong growth from Google [8][11]. - Motorola's performance weakened in Q3 due to soft prepaid demand influenced by macroeconomic and political factors, leading to a decline in its market share [8][11]. - HMD exited the U.S. market, prompting a cessation of tracking for this brand by the research firm [8][11]. Brand Performance - In Q2 2024, Apple held a 52% market share, which increased to 53% in Q3 2024, but dropped to 50% by Q3 2025. Samsung's share fluctuated, reaching 24% in Q3 2024 and stabilizing at 24% in Q3 2025. Lenovo's share remained consistent at 12% during the same period [9][15]. - The overall smartphone shipment volume in Q1 2025 increased by 9% year-on-year, driven by preemptive stocking to avoid potential tariff impacts, particularly in March [15][21]. - Motorola achieved its highest market share of 11% in Q1 2025, attributed to the early launch of its G series and improved positioning in the prepaid market [15][21]. Economic Impact - The article notes that the U.S. smartphone market faced a 9% year-on-year decline in Q4 2024, influenced by low upgrade rates and extended upgrade cycles. Apple and Samsung both experienced declines in shipments during this period [18][21]. - In Q3 2024, the U.S. smartphone market saw a 6% year-on-year decline, primarily due to weak demand in both prepaid and postpaid channels [21].