Apple iPhone 16 - Global Best selling Smartphone

In a market long dominated by incremental upgrades and cautious consumer spending, Q1 2025 just delivered a jolt of clarity — and a subtle warning. Apple, against all odds and a turbulent China, reclaimed the crown. The base iPhone 16 — not the Pro, not the Max — is now the bestselling smartphone globally, a milestone Apple hasn’t touched since Q1 2023, according to the latest report by Counterpoint Research.

The Rise of Base iPhones in a Pro-Dominated World

For nearly two years, the global top-spot belonged to premium flagships or Samsung’s budget workhorses. The iPhone 16 flipping that narrative signals something deeper — a recalibration in consumer sentiment. Not just toward brand value, but toward value-for-money flagships that don’t feel compromised.

Apple’s Full-Court Press: The Pro Power Continues

While the base iPhone ruled the volume chart, the Pro Max and Pro locked down the #2 and #3 spots. Apple’s high-margin hardware strategy is now in full bloom: nearly half of all iPhones sold in Q1 2025 were premium-tier. That’s a hardware masterstroke in a deflationary tech cycle. Yet, there’s friction — China, Apple’s second-largest iPhone market, is pivoting. With local brands like Huawei and Honor filling sub-CNY 6,000 price bands, Cupertino’s grip is loosening. As per the reports (Backlinko, Apple Earnings), Apple continues to benefit from high retention and deep integration across devices. As of early 2025, there are over 1.38 billion active iPhones globally. The iPhone isn’t just a phone — it’s the entry point into Apple’s $3 trillion ecosystem.

Samsung’s Quiet Comeback

While Apple dazzled with vertical integration and marketing muscle, Samsung played the volume game. The Galaxy A16 5G was #5 globally, up 17% YoY — a signal that mid-range 5G still has legs in price-sensitive markets like North America and Southeast Asia. More impressive? The Galaxy S25 Ultra, with just a few weeks of shelf life, still made the top 10. Flagship Android still breathes. Samsung remains the largest Android phone maker by users, bolstered by a strong mid-range lineup. The Galaxy A16 5G and Galaxy S25 Ultra helped Samsung secure four spots in the Q1 rankings.

Hello, Xiaomi. Hello, Emerging Markets.

Only one non-Apple/Samsung phone made the cut: Redmi 14C. Xiaomi’s stronghold over Latin America, India, and MEA remains intact. It’s no surprise — these markets are driving the sub-$100 smartphone surge, which now accounts for nearly 1 in 5 smartphones sold globally. This is where the next billion smartphone users will come from. And this is where AI, affordability, and accessibility will converge.

What’s Next?

1. Expect AI-native phones to climb next quarter’s charts. Google’s Tensor and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips will soon reshape consumer expectations.

2. India and MEA will dictate the next pricing battleground.

3. And watch out: the budget smartphone is going premium in feel, performance, and feature set.

Q1 2025 wasn’t just a sales chart reshuffle — it was a strategic inflection point. Apple leaned into its strengths. Samsung held the mid-ground. Xiaomi remained the budget torchbearer. But the real story? Consumers are getting smarter — and the best-selling smartphones reflect that intelligence.