The iPhone 16 led global smartphone sales for the first quarter of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. This marks a reversal from 2022, when a base iPhone model took the top spot.
Counterpoint attributed Apple’s success to improved economic conditions and updated carrier subsidy rules in Japan and the Middle East/Africa regions. The new lower-cost iPhone 16e also performed well, landing in sixth place globally after its first full month of availability.
Samsung secured five spots among the top ten, with the Galaxy A16 5G ranking fifth. However, the company’s flagship model, the S25 Ultra, fell to seventh place due to a shorter selling window. Xiaomi, on the other hand, posted significant growth in the low-end segment, driven by demand for sub-$100 smartphones.
The market saw strong year-over-year growth in the low-end tier, accounting for nearly 20% of global smartphone sales. As supply chain pressures eased, demand rebounded in key emerging markets. The Redmi 14C 4G from Xiaomi posted 43% year-over-year growth, driven by strong demand in the Middle East and Africa.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/28/iphone-16-worlds-best-selling-smartphone