Smartphone shipments for Apple and Samsung declined in the fourth quarter globally, as they grapple with intense competition from Chinese companies including Xiaomi, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) on Monday.

Phone shipments surged to grab 23 per cent of the market in the final quarter of 2024, as a rebounding market saw growth start to slow.

New research says that overall smartphone sales rose by 4% year over year in 2024, but the iPhone's share slightly declined as rivals such as Xiaomi grew in popularity.