Global smartphone sales rebounded strongly in 2024 after two straight years of decline, but Apple Inc. barely managed to achieve growth, according to an independent study. This underlined the speed at which Android-based rivals are gaining ground in China and emerging markets.

Apple and its rivals will ship 6.2% more phones, or an estimated 1.24 billion units, in 2024, according to market tracker IDC. But iPhone volumes were probably only 0.4% higher. Still, Apple remains by far the earnings leader with an average selling price of more than $1,000, while Android rivals combined for around $295, IDC estimates.