Global smartphone shipments fell 20% year on year in the third quarter, hitting their lowest level in 14 years, according to Counterpoint Research data reported by Techmeme. The decline came as memory shortages weighed on the market.
In the same quarter, Apple's share of global shipments crossed 20% for the first time in any Q3, reaching 22%. That combination — a shrinking market and a rising Apple slice — is the core of the story for anyone watching the phone industry.
Apple's 22% share in a shrinking market
Apple did not need a booming market to set a record. Its 22% share is the highest the company has recorded in a third quarter, and it is the first time it has passed the 20% mark in that period, per Counterpoint Research.
Because the overall market contracted, Apple's gain points to a shift in how the remaining buyers are spending rather than to a bigger pie. The data comes from Counterpoint Research and was surfaced by Techmeme; Apple has not issued its own statement in the source material.
Memory shortages behind the 14-year low
The 20% year-on-year fall to a 14-year low is attributed to memory shortages, according to the Counterpoint Research figures. Memory is a component cost that affects how many devices manufacturers can build and ship, so constraints there ripple across the whole market.
Counterpoint Research is the single source for both the shipment decline and Apple's share, so treat the two numbers as one dataset rather than separate reports.
What it means for you
For buyers in Tunisia, a 14-year low in global shipments is a market signal, not a local price list. No Tunisian availability or pricing details are announced in the source material, so any local impact on phone prices or stock is not yet confirmed.
