Apple becomes the world's leading smartphone manufacturer surpasses Samsung
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| Apple's success can be attributed to its "stronger product mix," including the new iPhone 16e phone (pictured). Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable |
For years, Apple and Samsung have been neck and neck when it comes to global smartphone shipments. But now, the tide has turned in Apple's favor.
According to new data from tech market research firm Counterpoint, Apple was the world's number one smartphone maker in 2025, with a 20 percent market share. Samsung had a 19 percent market share, followed by Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, with a 13, 8, and 8 percent market share, respectively.
This is notable as Apple and Samsung had the same market share in 2023 (19 percent) and 2024 (18 percent).
SEE ALSO:Did the foldable iPhone just get leaked? Seems like it.
Counterpoint says Apple had a 10 percent year-over-year smartphone shipment growth, which was the highest among the top five smartphone brands. According to Counterpoint senior analyst Varun Mishra, this was due to Apple's "expanding presence and rising demand across emerging and mid‑size markets, supported by a stronger product mix."
In other words, Apple's strategy of expanding its lineup — the company launched a new entry-level phone, the iPhone 16e, in February 2025 — is working.
Samsung's shipments also grew, by 5 percent year-over-year, but it wasn't enough to catch up with Apple. Counterpoint says the growth was driven by the company's mid-range A series phones, as well as the Galaxy Fold 7 and Galaxy S25 in the premium segments.
Apple is rumored to be planning another large expansion of its phone lineup, which could extend its lead over the competitors, though Samsung is reportedly already hard at work at matching the devices Apple is working on.
Notably, while Apple is expected to debut a foldable iPhone later this year, Samsung is poised to launch its Galaxy Z TriFold in the coming months.
Thanks to 17 series being strong
ReplyDeletehow I love my Nokia 3210. Still working after all those years.
ReplyDeletethere is people who only buy apple and there is a people who will never buy apple
ReplyDeleteI wont switch to Apple, not a chance. Ive had Samsung's for as long as I can remember.
ReplyDeleteSo people are buying the worst phones on the market
ReplyDeleteYour English is worst
DeleteNot in market share
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that Samsung is losing Android market share to Chinese Smartphones.
ReplyDeleteMy brother happily switched from Apple to Samsung.
ReplyDeleteNever knew Samsung was ahead. Not sure what that means for the future of smartphones either, but hopefully nothing negative.
ReplyDeleteHonestly surprised (iPhone user here)
ReplyDeleteI just upgraded from the 12 to the 16 and the only innovations I noticed were a crappy AI, and two action buttons — the equivalent of hotkeys — nothing I haven’t seen before
Samsung seems to be doing much more
Regardless, I can’t see them breaking record sales for much longer. We’re reaching the end of the innovation S-curve
With Android there are so many brands and choices, with iOS you are stuck with one brand. I'm somewhat surprised Samsung was outselling Apple in units.
DeleteYeah but iPhone has the rich vibes and we know that humans have a habit of buying things to look "high class" towards others.
DeleteSame can be said about any shoe or clothes luxury brands.
Google Pixel phones forever slept on. Sooo much better than Samsung. Samsung's bloatware gives Android a bad rep.
ReplyDeleteI like my pixel, but they have problems (my 4xl's battery reader stopped working, and my current 8pro has a WiFi/Bluetooth issue that online the only answer I can find is "sucks to suck")
DeleteI have a pixel and I find it a very meh phone; I switched from Motorola which IMO was a much better experience. I just wish Moto made pixel/iphone sized phones.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteNot sure whether this holds true for Android vs iPhone. Samsung is not the only Android phone manufacturer. Chinese brands have caught up.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteTim Apple must be happy.
ReplyDeletemeh, looking at the graph in the article this sounds like an overall nothingburger. its way too early to talk about trends.
ReplyDeleteSamsung has more Android competition that is. Apple is not gaining more territory.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, as a stocks guy, Samsung stock is on a tear (+183% last year), and Apple is one of the weakest in Mag7 (+11% in a year, underperforming SP500). What's up with that?
ReplyDeleteBecause Samsung is one of the top 3 RAM manufacturers. Data Center/AI scrambles to grab as much as they can.
DeleteSamsung makes alot more than just phones, tablets and computers
DeleteThe chips for AI is a big reason for the stock performance
Yeah, Samsung TVs are huge where I live in Europe.
Deletethey have a weapons manufacturing arm far larger than their home consumer goods division oddly enough
DeleteJust in my house; clothes dryer, tablet, washing machine, 2x TVs, 3x SSDs ( tripled in value which is nuts) 2x 3.5" hard drives and a fridge.
DeleteAnd probably some other things have Samsung components in too.
But no apple or Samsung phone though.
They make a lot of stuff.
Korean companies are quite diversified
DeleteYou are not a stocks guy if you are asking this...
DeleteMaybe aisle stocking guy...
DeleteI mean I swapped Samsung for iPhone well over a decade ago and would never go back. Far more comfortable, less bloated, and faster loading times for most mobile games.
ReplyDeleteIt’s one of those things redditors get needlessly angry about people’s preferences, like Linux, Fallout New Vegas, and the band Tool for some reason.
That's funny because I switched from Samsung to iPhone and immediately went back to Samsung. I'll never go back to Apple. Apple devices are just too limiting. If you care about gaming, Android is far superior for emulation and it's not even close. For everything else, there is no discernable difference in performance between Android and ios. Plus, samsung has way better deals on unlocked phones whereas you will only get iPhone deals by signing a contract.
DeleteI’m talking mobile gaming, not emulation, my main mobile game loads faster on iPhone and always has (mcoc). It’s a matter of fact.
DeleteI do emulate on my PC rarely but that’s not what I was talking about.
Well the difference probably mostly comes down to the app itself, not the hardware. A lot of developers do not optimize mobile games for Android like they do for iPhone, but you're also paying for that through things like apple arcade.
DeleteIt all depends on your preferences. For me, it was the "back" button however silly that is?
DeleteSamsung Android OS being a modified version of Android is not much different than Apple OS, they are both heavily restricted operating systems.
Another big one for me in Canada, is that iPhone batteries cannot handle the cold, they die insanely fast. Any Samsung phone I've had since the S3, I've used in -40C and not much battery drain compared to the iPhone which would die practically immediately.
DeleteYeah Samsung one UI is very similar looking to iOS now, but it still gives you more freedom like installing a different launcher.
And yeah iPhone batteries are generally crap. When I had one, it would regularly die at 15%. Meanwhile, every Samsung phone I've had was usable for a while after it hit 1%. Idk if newer iPhones are better in this regard, but I doubt it.
Should have tried Google pixel
DeleteI had several Pixels but decided to go all in on iPhone.
DeletePixel 6 Pro (I think, I know it was a pixel that I had in 2021) continuously dropped cell connection and would have to reboot. I’d reboot the device to 183 messages in the work chat app and wonder how freaking long it had been down. Even further back than that I had a Samsung Galaxy and even an HTC when they were still around. “It just works” is so cliché I hate to use it… but it’s been my experience with Apple. I recognize I probably just got two android lemons, and I miss having the ability to put a systemwide Adblock in place… but I need a phone that /just works/. Apple bends me over at checkout but they deliver what I ask.
DeleteIf you’re really curious, this is my cycle best I can remember: blackberry -> iPhone -> let’s try android (htc) -> not the most popular model, can’t find a good rugged case -> iPhone for aftermarket -> another iPhone -> lets give android a try -> bloatware -> iPhone -> give android another shot, Pixel -> need a phone to actually do phone things -> iPhone -> that phone literally drops twenty feet onto concrete at an airport, still works -> another iPhone
Apple's absolutely bodying Samsung in profits then because a major part of Samsung's sales are budget or midrange phones .
ReplyDeleteI don't know about other countries but in India it seems that most people as soon as they are rich enough to afford an iPhone they immediately switch over from Android.
This is because Apple stole the TouchWiz UI look from the 2000s Samsung phones in their newest iOS update.
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard that name in a loooong time, TouchWiz. lol
DeleteOh JUST Samsung. I was going to say that Android is blowing Apple out of the Apple.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is.
Aagaye Jobs ke chomde.
ReplyDelete20% market share with all with premium phones crazy
ReplyDeleteAbout time. Just maybe samsung will wake up
ReplyDeleteSamsung is getting squeezed from both sides. Apple is eating their lunch at the high end, and companies like Xiaomi are eating their lunch at the low end. Being stuck in the middle is the most dangerous place in business.
ReplyDeleteEven though Apple ranks #1 globally, the scenario in India is unique. Brands like Samsung, Vivo, and OnePlus continue to rule the mid-range sector. There is no doubt that the iPhone is King in the premium segment, but the actual market volume is still held by Chinese brands.
ReplyDeleteSamsung are catching up Apple
ReplyDeleteBut not too far away
Luckily Samsung moved up the memory value chain and they will have a golden decade.
ReplyDeleteSamsung comes 2nd to Apple in premium phones, TSMC in foundry, Sony in CIS doesnt matter much anymore.
If Samsung wins everything there's no more leftovers for the smaller players from China.
Samsung mobiles won't have a golden decade if they keep using the absolute worst specs.
Delete"(...)no more leftovers for the smaller players from China"
DeleteVery, very questionable prediction.
And wtf does Samsung's memory & foundry business have to do with the success of Chinese phone brands?!
tbf, the s25 series was a disappointing upgrade besides one ui 7 which eventually came to older models
ReplyDelete"Global" in the US.
ReplyDeleteI see no Huawei, being the biggest one in China, for example.
The world is "NOT" China tho. This is Global sales.
DeleteWe're used to this news.
ReplyDeletethnx 17 pro max....We can't deny it, this cell phone is a huge success.
ReplyDeleteWill Samsung be able to surpass Apple in 2026?
ReplyDeleteEarth is healing
ReplyDeleteCommon day at apple
ReplyDelete😔
ReplyDeleteNot only a business thing but also a geopolitical incident. GAFA+Nvidia is getting more power. Samsung falls from only non-internet-platform Top 10 market value Global North company in recent 5 years, replaced by TMSC of Taiwan.
ReplyDeleteThose Apple shares making me money it’s insane !
ReplyDeletePhone carriers also gives out ridiculous upgrade deals for iphones. So it's very appealing to customers. Tmobile gives $1100 credit towards a new iPhone. It's pretty much free as long as you stay with them for 2 years
ReplyDeleteWireless carriers give these same deals for Samsung flagships though and T-Mobile gives $0 Pixel 10 Pro XLs.
DeleteOnly shareholders in the comments here
ReplyDeleteWhere my huawei?
ReplyDelete🤡
Damn
ReplyDeleteWho buys that much crap from iPhones?
ReplyDeleteI guess it aint crap after all, or ppl like you just eat shit for a living without even trying that shit
DeleteI dont think Apple says grow outside of Apple, typically Apple has up years and down years withen its community. But what we are finding with Samsung People are leaving Samsung for other Androids. Even in the West, with Motrola? Growing behind Google.
ReplyDeletesamsung gotta lock in
ReplyDeleteGood for Samsung's pocket a good chunk of Apple's iPhone hardware is Samsung's
ReplyDeleteStill trashpple
ReplyDeleteButthurt
Delete👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
ReplyDeleteProb cause s25 not ultra is trash
ReplyDeleteLucky those Samsung screens are on those apple phones huh?
ReplyDeleteGrok knows ball and I believe it's true
ReplyDeleteThere are more stupid people than smart people in the world.
Samsung best Fuck off Apple
ReplyDeleteYou happy I know
ReplyDeleteDo you think Samsung will continue to drop below other Chinese manufacturers
ReplyDeleteApple: Where is your puny Android Gods now 🤣😂
ReplyDeletehttps://tenor.com/view/hulk-smash-loki-avengers-puny-gif-12082780
First time in over 10 years.
Delete