Apple Hits Record Q3, Captures 18% of Smartphone Market

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) achieved its strongest third-quarter performance to date, capturing 18% of the global smartphone market on the back of resilient iPhone demand. The tech giant's shipments grew 4% year-over-year, outpacing the broader market's recovery and underscoring the company's strong position in a competitive landscape.

The robust market share figures, , coincide with the company's stellar fiscal Q3 earnings report. Apple for the quarter ending in June, a 10% increase from the prior year that surpassed Wall Street expectations. Earnings per share also climbed 12% to $1.57.

Apple's performance is particularly notable given the context of the global smartphone market, which grew a modest 3% overall. The rebound was largely fueled by strong replacement demand as vendors prepared for a busy holiday season. While Samsung maintained its lead with a 19% share, Apple's growth rate allowed it to gain ground. The results highlight strong early demand for the iPhone 17 series and the continued strength of Apple's ecosystem.

Diving deeper into the company's financials, the growth was broad-based. iPhone revenue saw a significant 13.5% increase, while the Services division reached an all-time revenue record of $27.4 billion. The Mac segment also delivered a surprise with 14.8% revenue growth, partly driven by what analysts called . This comprehensive performance demonstrates Apple's ability to leverage its massive installed base of active devices, which hit a new all-time high.

The overall market's return to growth is a positive sign for the industry, which has faced macroeconomic headwinds and weak consumer demand. Omdia's analysis suggests the market is as consumers begin to upgrade their devices. As the industry heads into the critical fourth quarter, Apple's strong Q3 performance and new product lineup position it for a potentially strong finish to the year.