Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Breaks into Top 10 Best-Selling Smartphones, Driven by AI Features

Samsung's AI-Powered Comeback in the Smartphone Market

In a significant turn of events for the smartphone industry, Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first Android flagship in six years to break into the top 10 best-selling smartphones list. This development marks a crucial shift in the market dynamics, traditionally dominated by Apple's iPhones and budget-friendly models 1

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Market Performance and Rankings

According to Counterpoint Research, the Galaxy S24 Ultra secured the seventh position among the best-selling phones of 2024. While Apple's iPhone 15 lineup continued to dominate the top spots, with the base iPhone 15 model claiming first place, Samsung's flagship made a notable entry 2

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The full top 10 list included:

1. iPhone 15
2. iPhone 15 Pro Max
3. iPhone 15 Pro
4. Galaxy A15 5G
5. iPhone 16 Pro
6. Galaxy A15 (4G)
7. Galaxy S24 Ultra
8. iPhone 14
9. iPhone 16 Pro
10. Galaxy A05

Interestingly, Samsung's budget-friendly Galaxy A15 and its 5G variant outperformed the S24 Ultra in sales, highlighting the continued importance of the mid-range market 1

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AI Features: The Game-Changer

The research firms attribute the S24 Ultra's strong performance to Samsung's focus on AI features. Counterpoint Research stated that "Samsung's emphasis on these innovative features has resulted in strong market performance and a first-mover advantage" 2

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. This strategy seems to be paying off, with Samsung doubling down on AI-powered features in their newly launched Galaxy S25 series 1

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Global Smartphone Market Trends

The smartphone market showed signs of recovery in 2024, with overall sales growing by 7% year-over-year. Samsung shipped 222.9 million smartphones, narrowly behind Apple's 225.9 million units. Other Android manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo also saw growth, with Xiaomi experiencing a particularly strong 15% annual growth 1

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Rising Average Selling Prices

An interesting trend in the smartphone market is the increase in average selling prices (ASP). The global ASP rose from $287 to $324 in 2024. Apple's ASP surpassed $900 for the first time, while Samsung's stood at $299. This trend suggests consumers are increasingly willing to invest in higher-end smartphones that offer longer software support, powerful chipsets, and advanced AI features 1

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Future Outlook

As Samsung continues to innovate with AI features and other manufacturers catch up, the smartphone market landscape may see further shifts. The success of the Galaxy S25 series, which brings marginal improvements and new GenAI capabilities, will be crucial in determining whether Samsung can maintain its newfound position in the top-selling smartphones list 2

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