Apple Dominates Top Ten Best-Selling Smartphones List for 2022

[MacRumors]

Apple was easily the most popular smartphone brand last year, with eight of its iPhone models featuring in a list of 10 best-selling smartphones.

That's according to Counterpoint Research's Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker, which establishes Apple as the first brand to occupy so many spots in its top 10. The remaining two spots were taken by Samsung.

According to the report, Apple's iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone of 2022, contributing 28% of iPhone sales and achieving best-selling smartphone status in major markets such as China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Counterpoint's data suggests that the iPhone 13 remained the number one smartphone each month from its launch in September 2021 until August 2022, with price cuts after the launch of the iPhone 14 further driving iPhone 13 sales in developing markets.

Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which was the second best-selling smartphone of 2022, twice as many iPhone 13 models were sold, underlining the device's broad popularity across markets. With reference to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the report notes that:

For the first time, a Pro Max variant of an iPhone series drove more volume than its Pro and base models in 2022. It helped the iPhone 14 Pro Max to capture the third spot in the 2022 list. It was the top-selling smartphone model for September, October and November of 2022. The iPhone 14 Pro Max sales were led by early adopters and those upgrading to a higher iPhone variant.

Elsewhere, robust sales in the U.S., Japan, and China saw the iPhone 12 – the best-selling smartphone of 2021 – hold sixth spot above the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, despite being the oldest Apple handset in the list. The iPhone SE (2022) meanwhile took the tenth spot, with strong sales in Japan giving it a boost.

Lastly, Samsung's two spots on the list include its entry-level Galaxy A13 as the fourth best-selling smartphone, and the Galaxy A03, which rounded off the top 10. That's one more spot in the list than the Korean company achieved the previous year.

"We believe the share of the top 10 smartphones will increase in 2023 as brands focus on clearing inventory and optimizing their launches," said Counterpoint analysts Harshit Rastogi and Karn Chauhan. "We also expect brands to continue making their portfolios leaner in 2023 to minimize cannibalization. The number of active smartphone models in the global market has already fallen from over 4,200 in 2021 to around 3,600 in 2022."

In 2023, Apple continues to sell the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 alongside the iPhone 14 series and the third-generation iPhone SE, underlining the continuing popularity of its older models among new and returning customers.

Article Link: Apple Dominates Top Ten Best-Selling Smartphones List for 2022

 

[orbital~debris]

Very encouraging for our favourite fruit company, particularly as this is across the planet, not just the USA or another country/region.

 

[Contact_Feanor]

SE 2022 is ranked in januari and februari, while it was launched in march...

 

[Skyscraperfan]

They really managed to convince the masses to spend much more than necessary on a smartphone. Imagine Mercedes was the car brand with the most sales. People became so addicted to their phones that they spend irrational amounts of money on it. Most people only have a few hundred dollar or less left every month after all expensive. So a $999 phone means spending the money of several months. I have seen unemployed people with the latest iPhone. Some even go into debt to buy one. And after two years they already feel the need to replace it.

 

[djcerla]

That’s the reason why AAPL is Warren Buffett’s biggest investment, by far.

The guy has a no-nonsense logic which is rare in the tech blogosphere.

 

[mkoesel]

SE 2022 is ranked in januari and februari, while it was launched in march...

I was just going to post the same. I suspect those first two months are SE 2020 numbers. If true, it would seem to leave open the possibility that all of the other months include SE 2020 sales as well (not that it would skew things much given the Jan / Feb rankings).

 

[3xBoom]

Shows that Apple's strategy of issuing new phones across three-fours tiers yearly works despite relatively small feature upgrades.

 

[Jason2000]

They really managed to convince the masses to spend much more than necessary on a smartphone. Imagine Mercedes was the car brand with the most sales. People became so addicted to their phones that they spend irrational amounts of money on it. Most people only have a few hundred dollar or less left every month after all expensive. So a $999 phone means spending the money of several months. I have seen unemployed people with the latest iPhone. Some even go into debt to buy one. And after two years they already feel the need to replace it.

Yes but those expensive phones employee lots of people. Maybe worry about yourself and not so much what others spend their money on.

 

[d5aqoëp]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

 

[Nozuka]

SE 2022 is ranked in januari and februari, while it was launched in march...

Someone messed up...

The 13 Pro doesn't have any number for Jan/Feb

 

[mkoesel]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

The latest iPhone models are typically released in September so yearly sales often put last year‘s models ahead. Look at the monthly numbers - the iPhone 14 lineup has the top three spots in Oct, Nov, Dec, and there’s nothing to suggest this won’t continue until the iPhone 15 lineup arrives.

 

[ozaz]

This looks positive when viewed from perspective of individual models, but if those model shares are added up it suggests overall Apple only has ~ 15-20% of global sales of new units (by unit number). Obviously given retail prices they will have much larger share of revenue and profits, but I had been assuming their global unit share was higher.

 

[GraXXoR]

In Japan, the iPhone 12 was the biggest selling smartphone of all time. Since 2021, though, Japan has lost 69% of its total iPhone sales revenue due to pricing... And the iPhone 12 continues to be the most popular device, followed by the SE the mini and then the 13. The iPhone 14 models are well, well down the list over here.

People are just not willing to pay $1300 for an iPhone Pro with the least amount of usable memory (256 GB) the same as a device that was sold 5 years ago for less than half the price of today's pro models.

Even Japanese technoheads have their spend limits, and Apple has crossed them... in spades.

 

[jaehaerys48]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

This also means that people prefer year old iPhones over the latest Samsung/Google/Oneplus flagships lol.

 

[Nozuka]

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

The 14 Pro Max is on the 3rd spot for the year with just 4 months of sales... (During which there was even a shortage)

Looks like the island was marketing-genius

 

[Abazigal]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

Apple doesn’t need people to keep buying iPhones. They just need people to keep using them, because they have ample ways of continuing to earn from their user base (accessories, apps, services, even Apple Pay).

Either way, Apple wins.

 

[chouseworth]

The fact remains that the top ten phones account for only a total share of less than 20%. There are a lot of other cheap phones out there, and consequently opportunity, but I doubt that Apple will ever be much interested in that low cost, low profitability segment.

 

[AppleTO]

They may be the most popular phones, but they still have a relatively low worldwide marketshare. There are hundreds of cheap android phones, and others.

 

[Danoc]

.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I'm not surprised that the top phones are iPhones and Galaxy phones, but this really makes me miss the days when there were more manufacturers around. 😅 I never thought I'd miss HTC and LG phones, but at least they added variety (and occasionally interesting new features, and competition).

 

[kiranmk2]

Interesting there is no iPhone 14 Plus...

 

[StudioMacs]

People are happy with 2021 iPhone 13 series even today which means most are not buying latest Apple tech at wallet destroying prices. People are looking at deals on previous models like iPhone 13 and 12 which are at significant discounted prices. This is not a good trend for Apple if people start waiting for next year to buy previous model for cheap in fire sales.

The “Dufus island” on 14 Pro series is not attracting enough people.

your financial analysis misses the big picture. Many of those hardware sales turn into service subscription revenue, which is an area of growth for Apple.

Apple would much rather sell last year’s hardware to consumers who will pay a recurring monthly subscription than have those consumers buy a competitors product.

 

[Dranix]

Just added a new 13 mini

 

[mkoesel]

Interesting there is no iPhone 14 Plus...

Jibes with reports that it hasn’t been very popular compared to the rest of the lineup. Maybe the 15 Plus will do better (or maybe not).

So the iPhone SE is far from being a failure, contrary to the regular comments we read online.

Definitely not a failure, but it looks like sales may have peaked, and Samsung is on its heels with an all-screen 6”+ phone (notably still LCD though). Though sales of that device are also waning.

 

[JapanApple]

In Japan, the iPhone 12 was the biggest selling smartphone of all time. Since 2021, though, Japan has lost 69% of its total iPhone sales revenue due to pricing... And the iPhone 12 continues to be the most popular device, followed by the SE the mini and then the 13. The iPhone 14 models are well, well down the list over here.

People are just not willing to pay $1300 for an iPhone Pro with the least amount of usable memory (256 GB) the same as a device that was sold 5 years ago for less than half the price of today's pro models.

Even Japanese technoheads have their spend limits, and Apple has crossed them... in spades.

well, yes, it was all over the business news. Many people upgraded from 6+7,8. That is why it was a boom in Japan. My daughter bought her an 11 instead of a 12 because the prices matched our needs. It was a good thing, she needed a new phone soon and Sept 15 arrive, it is all about timing (university students, high schools, etc. ) As for lost revenue that isn't true. In fact, there are even more phones in Tokyo, etc. than ever before. business use the iPhone SE. In fact, my better half company gave their executives iPhone SE a new edition. Hence some of that data is just misconstrued.