As of March 26, 2024, Microsoft was the leading tech company by market capitalization globally at 3.14 trillion U.S. dollars. Apple ranked second, totaling around 2.64 trillion U.S. dollars in market capitalization. Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), and Amazon made up the rest of the top five.
Apple
Since its foundation in a Californian garage in 1976, Apple expanded massively and became one of the most valuable companies in the world. The company started its origins in the PC industry with the Macintosh, but soon entered other segments of the consumer electronics market. Today, the iPhone is the most profitable Apple product, although Mac, iPad, wearables, and services also contribute to its high revenues. Aiming at innovation, Apple invests every year in research and development, with its latest hardware product, an AR headset, released in 2024.
Samsung
Apple’s biggest rival in the consumer electronics industry is the South Korean tech giant Samsung. Founded in 1938 as a trading company, it developed in several sectors, including electronics and insurance, recording revenues in excess of 200 billion U.S. dollars over recent years. Despite Samsung being active in several markets across multiple divisions, it is today best known for its consumer tech products. Smartphones, tablets, and TVs are among the most popular. Samsung sits as the leading smartphone vendor, holding a market share of over 20 percent through 2022.
