In the fourth quarter, Apple's sales declined, while Xiaomi and Vivo are on the rise.

The global smartphone market has strongly rebounded after a two-year decline, as Chinese smartphone companies rapidly increased their market share through aggressive growth in the low-end segment and a strong focus on the domestic market.

THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL FOR APPLE

Apple's global shipments fell by 4.1% in the fourth quarter to 76.9 million units, while Xiaomi and Vivo experienced a notable increase in sales.

Sales of smartphones produced by the Chinese technology company Xiaomi recorded a 4.8% increase, while phones from another China-based company, Vivo, saw nearly a 13% increase in fourth-quarter sales.

THEY SET A RECORD

Chinese mobile manufacturers achieved the highest combined volume in a quarter by shipping 56% of global smartphones in the fourth quarter, supported by their low and mid-range devices, thus expanding their footprint in Europe and Africa.

"DEMAND FOR FOLDABLE DEVICES HAS DECREASED"

Anthony Scarsella, IDC's research director for customer devices, stated, "Despite continuous growth in several regions, we have seen a decrease in demand for foldable devices in the market despite intensified promotions and marketing."