Google smartphone shipments surge in US in Q2, overall market slumps
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Smartphones built by Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged domestically in the second-quarter, while the overall market experienced a sharp decline, with expectations for the weakness to continue.
According to Counterpoint Researchâs Market Monitor data, shipments of Google Pixel phones rose 48% year-over-year. During the quarter, Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) announced a foldable Pixel smartphone, the Pixel Fold, and a budget-line smartphone, the Pixel 7a, available starting at $499.
Though Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Pixel line saw strength in the quarter, it represents just 3% of the domestic market.
Conversely, smartphones that run Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Android operating system experienced sharp declines, as Samsung (OTCPK:SSNLF) saw a 37% year-over-year decline, while Motorola saw a 17% drop.
In total, Android shipments fell 38% year-over-year, Counterpoint said in a statement.
Samsung (OTCPK:SSNLF) announced several new smartphones and other devices at its 2023 Unpacked event earlier this month.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) saw a 6% year-over-year decline in the second-quarter Counterpoint said, but the iPhone now accounts for 55% of the overall U.S. market, up from 52% in the prior quarter and 45% in the year-ago period.
Counterpoint associate research director Hanish Bhatia attributed Apple's (AAPL) strength in the market to postpaid and prepaid promotions from carriers. 
"Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile continued to offer $800+ promo credits for the iPhone 14 while old-generation iPhones were also steeply discounted across prepaid," Bhatia proclaimed. "We are seeing no weakness in the overall promotional activity." 
Cupertino, California-based Apple (AAPL) is widely expected to launch a new iPhone in the calendar third-quarter, which may come with a 48MP camera, among other new features.
Counterpoint Research analyst Matthew Orf said that demand was "tepid" during the quarter and even though inflation looks to be falling, consumers were hesitant to upgrade their devices. 
"We expect this trend to continue through Q3 2023, but the expectations from the upcoming iPhone 15 remain bullish," Orf added.
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