iPhone 16 Tops List of World's Best-Selling Smartphones in 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research's latest report. Apple and Samsung devices dominated the top 10 list for the fourth consecutive year, accounting for 19% of overall smartphone sales.

Apple claimed seven of the top 10 spots, while Samsung captured the remaining three.

Launched in September, the iPhone 17 series achieved 16% higher sales than its predecessor during its first full quarter, driven by strong demand in the U.S., China, and Western Europe. Counterpoint said the base iPhone 17 model was the standout performer, registering the highest growth among all devices and climbing the rankings compared to where the iPhone 16 debuted in 2024. Counterpoint attributed the growth to the iPhone 17's upgrades, such as a higher refresh rate (120Hz vs 60Hz), and larger base storage (256GB vs. 128GB).

The more affordable iPhone 16e, launched in spring 2025, also contributed additional sales with its more accessible $599 entry point into Apple's ecosystem.

In fifth position, Samsung's Galaxy A16 5G became the best-selling Android smartphone of 2025, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra secured a flagship spot for the second consecutive year in ninth. The S25 Ultra grew more than 3x year-over-year in Japan, according to the research firm.

Looking ahead, Counterpoint expects premium flagship devices to increase their presence in 2026 as rising memory prices disproportionately impact entry-to-mid-segment devices.

Apple still sells iPhone 16 models as part of its smartphone lineup. Priced starting at $699, the previous-generation device features an A18 chip that supports Apple Intelligence, a dual-lens camera system, a Camera Control button for quick camera access, and a customizable Action button.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Tops List of World's Best-Selling Smartphones in 2025

 

[AppleMacintosh]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

 

[contacos]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

I got an iPhone 16 at my new work and I use it simultaneously to my Galaxy Fold 7 and Oppo Find N5 and I honestly don't notice any difference when scrolling etc. I even put it next to the iPhone 16 Pro I had previously and have since gifted to my BF. Probably my brain not seeing it

 

[wanha]

idly wondering what the top 10 phones list would look like if we ranked them by profit share

 

[Tsepz]

Truly amazing performance, 17 Pro Max only became available in September and it is already sitting at 4th place with less than 6 months of sales, wow!

 

[repoman016]

Does this include carrier deals? I don't see a lot of "Get an iPhone Pro Max on us" commercials, its usually just the standard model (which is 1st place). I'm curious what that looks like

 

[freezelighter]

iPhone 16 is great.

Those 120HZ is just a trend for Netflix & TikTok kids.

 

[Abazigal]

idly wondering what the top 10 phones list would look like if we ranked them by profit share

Probably every iPhone for the past couple of years.

 

[wanha]

Probably every iPhone for the past couple of years.

that would be my guess too

 

[Falco McGregor]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

Yep. Look no further than the 16e showing up in there at number 10. Talk about a gulf between the online discourse of a phone’s relative value/popularity and actual consumer sentiment.

 

[thelion7]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

I agree although I think a lot of those sales were influenced by the promise of Full Apple Intelligence integration of which almost a year and a half later we’re still waiting.

Think that’s why the standard 17 got 120hz this year because Apple had to deliver more to make up for their failures and add 120hz is easy to do.

Don’t get me wrong, love my 16 Plus but annoyed that I upgraded from a standard 15 for Apple Intelligence and the features I want still aren’t available.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Wow, the fact the 17 Pro Max made number four considering it was only on sale for three months during 2025 and supply was heavily constrained most of that time.

Anecdotally it makes sense as I've seen a lot more of them than I expected in the wild. Most of them in silver. Really weird color choices this year but other than that people love it.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Also interesting that there is only a single Android flagship. Seems to support the general impression that Android really is primarily for budget users. Anyone who actually wants a high end Android phone has very little choice.

 

[JosephAW]

$299 At Walmart. After two months of straight talk plan you can unlock it. And move to another carrier. 😛 📱

 

[citysnaps]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

Spot-on. That's the hackneyed and lazy go-to cudgel when one feels the need to slam Apple and can't come up with anything tangible or original.

 

[Return Zero]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

Probably true, but I have a suspicion that the iPhone 17 will be even more dominant for 2026 due to some of these features (plus the storage bump)!

 

[justanotherdave]

Also interesting that there is only a single Android flagship. Seems to support the general impression that Android really is primarily for budget users. Anyone who actually wants a high end Android phone has very little choice.

But…but…but…Samsung sells more smartphones* than Apple. Therefore they are better.


* Up until recently where Apple overtook them.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

Does this include carrier deals? I don't see a lot of "Get an iPhone Pro Max on us" commercials, its usually just the standard model (which is 1st place). I'm curious what that looks like

Yes, of course. "on us" is marketing, the consumer pays in the end. That said, my 17 pro (not max) was "free" through Verizon. IIRC, the pro max would have been like $5 per month. (this is for base storage models, obvs).

 

[deconstruct60]

I agree although I think a lot of those sales were influenced by the promise of Full Apple Intelligence integration of which almost a year and a half later we’re still waiting.

A lot of these sales are influenced by carriers masking the price of the phone ( "free phone if you carry the higher priced contract for 2-3 years" ... or "bundled several phone lines and get new phones. " , etc.). The price appears 'zero' but just buried in the fine print which most consumers will gloss over.

It is why Samsung's more affordable phones outsell one of it most expensive ones and Apple's is 'inverted'. Apple has a bigger spiff operation. the 16e is barely covering the 14+SE market it is suppose to cover. Primarily because Apple's sales marketing proiorities are 'up' market.

Apple Intelligence was mostly a no op. If it was huge 'problem' folks who have stopped buying and unit sales would have dropped (more Samsung or other vendor phones creep into the top). One of the large offsetting factors to Apple Inteligence is that got much better hardware ( that was suppose to run the fancy AI features) that can also easily run other apps folks already have. More RAM extremely likely isn't going to make the phone slower. Neither is a faster processors in Graphics/CPU/etc. Faster NPU is faster FaceID and other machine learning features that Apple has sucessfully mastered.

 

[SactoGuy18]

A reason why the iPhone 16 sold well was the fact it sold from January 2025 to September 2025 in its original form. That's why sales were strong. I expect iPhone 17 sales as reported in 2026 to be higher, especially its very strong initial sales in China.

 

[code-m]

Goes on to show that average people don’t really know or care about 60Hz, Always-on, 48MP ultrawide, thinner bezels, USB 3.0 speeds, Telephoto lens or even a ‘Plus’ size as recently as 2025…

This is misleading as the iPhone 16/P/PM were on-sale right until the 17 series was shipping and then onwards it was carrier promotions.

iPhone 17 PM being available foe only a quarter and still at No. 4 is quite impressive. We won’t know until the end of 2026 and I suspect iPhone 17 will top iPhone 16 for 2025 sales figures.

AOD, 120Hz all matters it’s just not what was available. Cost is another factor considering iPhone 16e acceptance. For some it’s either a flip phone or most affordable iPhone for basic tasks.

 

[code-m]

Also interesting that there is only a single Android flagship. Seems to support the general impression that Android really is primarily for budget users. Anyone who actually wants a high end Android phone has very little choice.

Most budget Android phones don’t last longer than 2 years if you are lucky. People purchase phones including iPhones as a tool for long usage and update unlike most here to feel it’s a “keep up with the Jones” competition. Most consumers just look at cost, it’s an iPhone and it completes its basic functions. An iPhone is an iPhone to your average consumer regardless if it had 1 camera or 10, it’s the cost of the device or subsidized at the end of the day that matters.

 

[webkit]

Anyone who actually wants a high end Android phone has very little choice.

I suppose that depends on how one defines "high end" but there are the various Samsung Galaxy S models, Samsung Galaxy Z (fold and flip) models, Google Pixel models, Motorola razr models, and Sony Xperia (no longer officially sold in U.S.) models. These can run over $1,000 (U.S.) retail.

 

[CEmajr]

Apple is in an excellent position in regards to smartphones. Not enough marketshare for anyone to claim they have a monopoly as far as units go but an overwhelming majority of the industry profits to the point where the others are just fighting for leftover scraps.

 

[justanotherdave]

Apple is in an excellent position in regards to smartphones. Not enough marketshare for anyone to claim they have a monopoly as far as units go but an overwhelming majority of the industry profits to the point where the others are just fighting for leftover scraps.

If someone wants to redefine the smartphone market into segments (budget, midrange, flagship) then Apple would absolutely have a monopoly for flagships.

Considering some people want to pretend The App Store is a monopoly as a self-contained market then it’s not a stretch to think someone will attempt to say the iPhone is a monopoly.