Apple took half of the global top-10 best-selling smartphones

Apple significantly strengthened its position in the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to a report by the research firm Counterpoint Research, five of the ten best-selling smartphone models worldwide were iPhones.

Sales Leaders

First place was confidently taken by the iPhone 17 Pro Max — the flagship device became the most popular smartphone of 2025. It was followed by the base model iPhone 17 and the compact iPhone 17 Pro. As a result, the entire top three of the global market belonged to Apple.

The top ten also included models from the previous generation:

• iPhone 16 ranked fourth,
• iPhone 16e placed eighth.

Notably, the iPhone Air did not make it into the top ten.

Distribution of the Remaining Positions

Samsung secured four positions in the ranking thanks to a strong mix of budget and flagship devices:

• Galaxy A56 (5th place),
• Galaxy A36 (6th place),
• Galaxy A07 (7th place),
• Galaxy S25 (10th place).

The only representative of Chinese brands in the top ten was the budget Redmi A5 from Xiaomi, which ranked ninth.

Figures and Context

According to analysts at Counterpoint, the ten most popular models accounted for about 23% of all global smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2025. The iPhone 17 Pro Max alone accounted for roughly 5% of the global market.

Throughout 2025, Apple demonstrated consistent strength. Notably, the iPhone 16 was the only Apple device that remained in the top ten in every quarter of the year.

In Brief

According to Counterpoint Research, in the fourth quarter of 2025, Apple held five out of ten positions in the ranking of the world’s best-selling smartphones. The leader was the iPhone 17 Pro Max, followed by the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. Samsung placed four models in the top ten, while Xiaomi secured one (Redmi A5). The ten most popular smartphones accounted for about 23% of global shipments, with Apple’s flagship alone capturing roughly 5% of the market. The results confirmed Apple’s strong position in the premium segment throughout 2025.