Apple’s iPhone 16 emerged as the world’s top-selling smartphone for all of 2025, capping a year of dominance that saw the company seize seven of the global top 10 spots, according to fresh data from market researcher Counterpoint Research . Samsung snagged the remaining three positions, underscoring the duopoly’s unyielding hold on premium and midrange sales. These 10 models alone drove 19% of total annual smartphone shipments worldwide.
The base iPhone 16 not only led the pack but widened its lead over rivals, fueled by sustained demand across key regions. Counterpoint Research Analyst Harshit Rastogi noted, “Apple maintained a strong presence in the Top 10 rankings, with the iPhone 16 leading and further widening the gap with the next positions.” This performance marked the fourth straight year Apple and Samsung monopolized the leaderboard.
Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G stood out as the best-selling Android device, capturing fifth place overall. Its success highlighted the Korean giant’s strength in affordable 5G options, even as Apple’s lineup overwhelmed the list. The Galaxy S25 Ultra clung to ninth, buoyed by over threefold year-over-year growth in Japan and double-digit gains in India, per MacRumors .
Base Model Surge Reshapes Lineup Dynamics
Apple’s strategy of blurring lines between base and Pro models paid dividends. The iPhone 17 base variant, with upgrades like a 120Hz refresh rate, doubled RAM, and 256GB starting storage, jumped four spots in rankings and posted the strongest growth against predecessors. Rastogi added, “The iPhone 17 series achieved 16% higher sales than the predecessor series during its first full quarter in the market, driven by strong initial demand in key markets such as the US, China and Western Europe.”
The spring 2025 launch of the $599 iPhone 16e further bolstered Apple’s volume, providing an entry point that resonated in the U.S. and Japan. Counterpoint Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan observed Samsung’s flagship push: “The Galaxy S25 Ultra improved its regional share, growing more than 3x YoY in Japan and achieving double-digit growth in India. The device delivers leading AI capabilities.”
Quarterly trends reinforced the annual picture. In Q1 2025, the iPhone 16 topped sales for the first time in two years for a base model in that period, with Apple claiming five top-10 slots including Pro Max in second and Pro in third, as detailed in Counterpoint Research ‘s Q1 report.
Regional Engines Fuel Global Domination
Japan’s recovery, aided by economic upticks and carrier subsidies, propelled iPhone 16 base sales. Festive promotions in India sustained momentum into Q3, where the iPhone 16 held a 4% volume share for its third straight quarter at number one. Counterpoint noted all top-five Q3 models were 5G devices, signaling maturing networks.
In the U.S., COVID-era buyers upgraded en masse, while China and Western Europe drove iPhone 17 demand despite Huawei’s premium pressure. Samsung countered in emerging markets like MEA and Latin America with A-series volume, but Apple’s ecosystem loyalty proved insurmountable. 9to5Mac reported the base iPhone 16’s Q1 lead marked a three-year high for non-Pro models.
Pro models still commanded nearly half of Apple’s sales, with the 16 Pro Max and Pro holding second and third in multiple quarters. The iPhone 16 Plus and even lingering iPhone 15 rounded out Apple’s top-10 presence, per MacRumors .
Samsung’s Midrange Fortress Holds Firm
Samsung’s three spots leaned heavily on Galaxy A models, with the A16 5G as Android’s yearly leader. The early A17 5G refresh slightly dented A16 sales, but the lineup’s similar shares targeted diverse segments effectively. In Q3, Samsung claimed five top-10 entries, all A-series, as Gadgets 360 highlighted.
The S25 Ultra’s ninth-place finish reflected flagship focus, narrowing gaps with cheaper A models despite price disparities. Chauhan credited “ongoing enhancements in utility, productivity, media, and a set of exclusive features such as AI Select and Audio Eraser.” North America saw A16 account for a third of its sales.
Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C briefly pierced top-10s in Q1 but faded annually, underscoring Apple-Samsung’s lock on high-volume tiers. X posts from users like @ShishirShelke1 echoed the data: “iPhone 16 is the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025,” with visuals of rankings.
Premium Shift Looms for 2026
Looking ahead, Counterpoint forecasts flagships gaining ground in 2026 as memory shortages hit entry-to-mid segments hardest in MEA and Latin America. Rising prices could elongate replacement cycles, boosting trade-ins and refurbished sales. Apple’s 10% shipment growth edged Samsung’s in 2025, per broader reports.
AI integration in midrangers like Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence sustained their top-10 viability, but premium ASPs rose via financing. CNET noted Q1’s base-model reversal from Pro-led years, tied to China’s subsidies favoring sub-$833 devices.
Apple’s ecosystem, from Apple Intelligence to services, cemented loyalty. As @LeakerApple posted on X, “People don’t care about 120Hz or flashy specs. They want a fast, reliable phone with premium build quality, great battery life and excellent software support.” This sentiment propelled the iPhone 16’s reign.
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