iPhone 16 Becomes World's Best-Selling Smartphone in Q1 2025 [Chart]

Apple's iPhone 16 was the world's best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. This achievement also signaled the return of an iPhone base variant to the top sales position in a first quarter after a two-year interval. The report highlighted Apple's continued strength in the global market, with the company securing five of the top-10 spots for best-selling smartphones for the fifth consecutive March quarter.

The iPhone 16 performed particularly well in Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Counterpoint noted that "Japan recorded the highest growth in base variant sales," adding that "improved economic conditions and revised subsidy regulations favored Apple's pricing strategy and ecosystem," which further strengthened its appeal in the Japanese market.

Following closely, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro secured the second and third positions in the global rankings. However, the Pro series faced challenges in China. Counterpoint observed that this was "due to government subsidies favoring sub-CNY 6,000 (~$833) devices and strong competition in the country's premium segment from OEMs like Huawei," a situation also reflected in an earlier IDC report on China's Q1 market. Despite these regional headwinds, the research firm stated that "Pro models continued to account for nearly half of Apple's total iPhone sales for the third consecutive quarter."


The iPhone 16e, which Apple launched in February, made a notable debut by capturing the sixth spot in the global top-10 list for March 2025, its first full month of availability. "Despite a higher price compared to the SE 2022, the 16e is expected to outperform its predecessor during its first year," Counterpoint's report mentioned, attributing this success largely to "its significant technological advancements and expanded feature set," which you can see in early reviews.

In comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra ranked seventh in Q1 2025, a drop from the fifth position its S24 Ultra held in the same quarter last year. Counterpoint attributes this primarily to "a shorter sales window for the S25 Ultra during the quarter." The Galaxy A16 5G model climbed to fifth place, benefiting from wider availability, especially in North America where it "accounted for one-third of its total global sales." The Samsung Galaxy A06 also saw strong growth, which Counterpoint described as "part of a broader surge in low-end smartphone demand across all regions," with these budget-friendly devices now capturing "nearly 20% of total global smartphone sales."

Xiaomi's Redmi 14C 4G was the only model outside of Apple and Samsung to make the top-10 list. The report highlighted its "impressive 43% YoY growth over the Redmi 13C 4G," with most sales originating from emerging markets, "underscoring Xiaomi's strength in value-driven segments."
Counterpoint Research suggests that "the share of the top 10 best-selling smartphone models is expected to remain relatively stable" moving forward, even with ongoing tariff discussions and market uncertainties. This stability is expected as "OEMs increasingly focusing on high-end smartphones where consumer interest is driven by premium features."

More details in the full report linked below...


Read More