IDC has released their estimates on worldwide mobile phone sales for the second quarter of 2013, and they show Apple’s iPhone posting its second-lowest growth in four years with 20% year-over-year growth, compared to 52.3% growth for the market as a whole.
![idc_2Q13_smartphones](http://www.mactrast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/idc_2Q13_smartphones.jpg)
IDC, via MacRumors:
Apple posted its second-lowest year-over-year iPhone growth rate in almost four years as some buyers presumably held off on iPhone purchases in advance of an expected next-generation device launch this fall. Nonetheless, the 31.2 million iPhones Apple shipped last quarter was impressive as its flagship iPhone 5 model, which has been in the market for three quarters, was faced with additional global competition in the form of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and HTC’s critically-acclaimed One models. Apple’s growth is likely to accelerate globally assuming it launches a lower-cost iPhone and continues to penetrate prepaid markets in the quarters to come.
Apple did maintain a hold on the second slot for smartphone makers behind Samsung. Other competitors, such as LG, Lenovo, and ZTE failed to grab at least 6% of the market in the quarter.
![idc_2Q13_phones1](http://www.mactrast.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/idc_2Q13_phones1.jpg)
The growth of smartphones benefited Apple in the quarter, as it held onto the number three slot in total mobile phone sales. Overall unit shipments were up 5.2% for the Cupertino company, and overall market share rose 0.8%, as the company grabbed an overall 7.2% market share in the quarter.