Highlights
- The iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025 with strong demand in Japan, the Middle East and Africa.
- Apple secured five spots in the global top 10, while Samsung claimed four and Xiaomi was the only other brand represented.
- Apple’s iPhone 16e made a solid debut, ranking sixth globally, while Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy A06 climbed in popularity.
Caption – Apple grabs 5 spots in the top 10 best-selling smartphones Q1 2025 list. (Image credit – Apple)
The iPhone 16 was the world’s best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2025, according to fresh data from Counterpoint Research. This is the first time since 2022 that the regular, non-Pro iPhone has led global sales during this period.
iPhone 16 Tops the Global Sales Charts
Caption – Latest data from Counterpoint research.
Apple claimed five spots in the global top 10 list, continuing a trend that’s held steady over the past five March quarters. Samsung followed with four models and Xiaomi was the only other brand to make the cut.
While the Pro models stayed popular, it was the standard iPhone 16 that drove the most sales, especially in Japan, the Middle East and Africa. Counterpoint credits this surge in Japan to better economic conditions and updated carrier subsidies that worked in Apple’s favour.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Pro came in second and third, respectively. However, these models are still facing tough competition in China. Government incentives are now favouring phones priced under CNY 6,000 (around $833), helping local brands like Huawei gain traction.
Apple’s new budget-friendly model, the iPhone 16e, also made a strong debut. March 2025 was its first full month on sale, and it already ranked sixth globally. With a more modern design and a richer feature set than the older SE models, analysts expect the 16e to do significantly better over the next year.
Samsung Loses a Spot
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra landed in seventh place this quarter, dropping two spots compared to the S24 Ultra in Q1 2024. Counterpoint says that’s mostly because the S25 series launched later in the quarter, giving it less time to rack up sales.
The Galaxy A16 5G took fifth place overall, thanks to solid demand in North America, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy A06 also climbed four spots in the top 10, boosted by rising demand for budget phones under $100.
In fact, this low-end segment was the fastest-growing part of the market in Q1, making up nearly 20% of global smartphone sales. Counterpoint attributes the growth to fewer supply chain issues and stronger demand in key emerging markets.
Xiaomi Only Other Brand in the Top 10
The only phone in the top 10 that wasn’t from Apple or Samsung came from Xiaomi. The Redmi 14C 4G saw 43% year-over-year growth, driven by strong sales in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Like Xiaomi’s recent success in wearables, the 14C’s popularity shows the brand’s strength in offering solid features at very competitive prices.
FAQs
Q1. What was the best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025?
Answer. The iPhone 16 topped global sales, marking the first time since 2022 that a non-Pro model led the rankings.
Q2. Which brands dominated the global top 10 list?
Answer. Apple claimed five spots, Samsung secured four, and Xiaomi was the only other brand to make the cut with its Redmi 14C 4G.
Q3. What contributed to the growth of budget smartphones?
Answer. Stronger demand in key emerging markets, fewer supply chain issues, and affordable pricing under $100 helped boost sales, particularly for Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy A06.
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