🚀 Apple outsells Samsung phones for first time in 14 years

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Market Overview
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Year To Date Performances:

1. Apple is on track to outsell Samsung in smartphones for the first time in 14 years, with Counterpoint Research projecting 243 million iPhone shipments in 2025 versus Samsung’s 235 million. The surge is driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup, which posted double-digit sales growth in both the U.S. and China and reflects millions of consumers reaching the end of their COVID-era upgrade cycle. Samsung, meanwhile, is losing ground in the low- and mid-tier market to Chinese competitors, complicating its path back to the top. Counterpoint expects Apple to retain its lead through 2029, supported by a massive base of second-hand iPhone users due to upgrade, structural tailwinds from a U.S.–China trade truce, and upcoming products such as the iPhone 17e, a foldable device, and a major design overhaul in 2027. With expanding price tiers and deepening ecosystem loyalty, analysts say Apple is strategically positioned to dominate the global smartphone market for years.

2. Gen Z is emerging as the most enthusiastic Black Friday demographic, with 40% planning to do most of their holiday shopping that day, even as their overall spending is set to drop by 23% compared to last year. While younger shoppers flock to early deals, often driven by social-media promotions, older generations are waiting until just before Christmas, reflecting broader consumer caution amid a “K-shaped” economy where wealthier households spend freely, and lower-income shoppers pull back. Surveys from AT&T, PwC, and Deloitte show that price sensitivity is rising across the board, but that this shift is also boosting support for small businesses, with 77% of consumers saying they’d shop locally if prices matched big-box retailers. Despite the rise of AI-driven shopping tools, most people still find gift inspiration through in-person browsing, underscoring how traditional habits persist even as digital trends accelerate.

3. Black Friday car deals are thinner this year, with analysts warning that shoppers hoping for deep discounts will likely be disappointed as elevated prices and expensive financing continue to squeeze buyers. Despite inventories finally recovering after pandemic-era shortages, the average price paid for a new car still hovers around $49,105, well above pre-2020 levels, and monthly payments have climbed to $766, pushing more buyers into seven- and eight-year loans that cost far more in interest over time. Discounts remain modest compared to before the pandemic, and experts say shoppers who haven’t bought a car in years may be surprised by how much both sticker prices and borrowing costs have increased. Still, consumers may find better deals on vehicles that have sat on dealer lots for months or when manufacturers add incentives, and trade-ins in good condition can help reduce the amount financed.

   Headlines

   1. Home buying has risen a little in early November as some try to close on deals before the end of the year.

   2. A new study has found that 36% of advertised Black Friday deals do not offer a discount from the regular price of goods.