The fight for smartphone supremacy is heating up once more. New sales data from the second quarter shows Samsung is gaining ground on Apple in the United States. This comeback is largely due to the rising popularity of foldable smartphones. They have become a key selling point this year.
A report from Canalys reveals Samsung’s market share in the US grew from 23% to 31%. At the same time, Apple’s share dropped from 56% to 49%. Apple still holds the top spot. However, this new pressure is something the company has rarely faced in the last ten years.
Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip models are big players in this shift. They launched in July and quickly earned strong reviews from both media and users. Viral content showing off their toughness spread fast online. For instance, a video of a phone being folded over 200,000 times earned more than 15 million views on YouTube.
Samsung also gains an edge by offering phones at every price point. Their lineup includes entry-level devices costing around $650. Their high-end models can go up to $2,400. This top price is even higher than Apple’s priciest iPhone model, the 16 Pro Max, which sells for $1,199 to $1,599.
Investors are also taking note of these shifts. Samsung’s stock has climbed over 35% since the start of the year. Meanwhile, Apple’s stock has fallen by more than 7.5%. This drop comes from worries about slower iPhone sales. Delays in Apple’s AI plans also play a role, especially compared to rivals who fully use Google Gemini.