Apple is poised to overtake Samsung to become the global smartphone leader, following the launch of the iPhone 15 this month, according to market research group TrendForce.

The global smartphone market, like many other sectors, has been grappling with its fair share of hurdles lately, such as sluggish demand and economic uncertainties prevailing across numerous countries. In fact, the third quarter of 2022 saw a modest dip of 0.9% compared to the previous quarter, with a total of 289 million smartphone units being shipped worldwide.

However, the winds of change are blowing, and they’re bringing good news for Apple. The tech giant is gearing up for significant growth in the upcoming fourth quarter, with its market share expected to soar from 17.6% in the third quarter to an impressive 24.6%, thanks to the launch of its new iPhone 15 series, which will comprise of four new models: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

On the flip side of the coin, Samsung’s prospects are looking somewhat dimmer. While the South Korean tech giant did manage to see a 3.9% uptick in smartphone shipments from the previous quarter, the road ahead appears rocky. Samsung is poised to grapple with ongoing inventory pressures, lackluster demand, and the lingering specter of a semiconductor shortage. These challenges may very well pave the way for Apple to seize the coveted top spot in the global smartphone hierarchy.

Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone heavyweights Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo, currently occupying the third to fifth positions in the global smartphone rankings, aren’t immune to the turbulence either. The TrendForce report suggests that these Chinese manufacturers are likely to witness a decline in their market share during the fourth quarter. This dip can be attributed to the confluence of reduced smartphone demand within China’s domestic market and sluggish economic growth in India, which together pose formidable obstacles to their growth.