Apple’s iPhone 16 has made a surprise entry as the world’s best-selling smartphone for Q1 2025, beating its Pro and Pro Max variants. According to Counterpoint Research data, the base model iPhone 16 took top spot despite sharing similar specs with the more expensive models.
The iPhone 16’s success is attributed to its affordability and comparable performance to Apple’s flagship offerings. However, it comes with trade-offs such as a non-titanium alloy chassis, fewer cameras, and a 60Hz OLED panel. The iPhone 15 still secured fourth place in Q1 2025 after being the runner-up last year.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra took seventh position, while Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C 4G managed to make room for itself in the list. Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus failed to secure a spot, and it is likely that the company will drop its immediate successor, the iPhone 17 Air, instead. The data shows that China’s government subsidies and Huawei’s rise hindered Apple’s top two positions in this market.
Source: https://wccftech.com/iphone-16-becomes-global-best-selling-smartphone-for-q1-2025