"Apple Surpasses Samsung to Become Top Global Smartphone Maker"

Apple has surpassed Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone maker for the first time in 12 years, capturing over a fifth of the global market share, while Samsung took 19.4%. Smartphone sales have declined due to the pandemic, with Apple being the only player in the top 3 to show positive growth annually. Apple's success is attributed to trade-in offers, interest-free financing plans, and increased demand for premium devices. Meanwhile, Samsung faces competition from cheaper Android models and warns of dropping profits due to weak global demand for consumer electronics. The smartphone market is evolving with a growing number of Android providers and increasing customer interest in foldable phones and AI capabilities.