Counterpoint is here with its global smartphone sales report for Q3 2025. Apple’s iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in Q3 2025, according to the firm’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. Samsung and Apple captured five spots each in the top-10 list, contributing around 20% of the overall global smartphone volume for the quarter.
Global smartphone sales for Q3 2025
The iPhone 16 led the market with 4% volume share, maintaining the first position for the third consecutive quarter. This is driven by the sales boost in India, courtesy of festive promotions and sustained recovery in Japan. The phone was able to restrict the iPhone 16 series’ seasonal decline due to the iPhone 17 series launch.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro models saw a steeper decline. This is because the highest contributing markets, like the US, UK, and China, saw consumers waiting for the iPhone 17 series. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, which saw limited availability towards the end of the quarter, managed to secure the tenth position in the global smartphone sales for Q3 2025. It was the best-selling model in September 2025.
5G smartphones captured the top five spots
The research report further adds that 5G smartphones reportedly captured the top five spots for the first time in Q3. Samsung secured five spots on the list, all are from the Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A16 5G was the best-selling Android smartphone for the quarter, moving up one position compared to its predecessor last year and overtaking the 4G variant of the series.
The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 also saw higher sales than their predecessors, courtesy of AI capabilities. These also offered faster charging and longer software than their predecessors. The Galaxy A16 4G and Galaxy A06 are the only LTE smartphones in the list. They continue to remain key models in emerging markets like Latin America and the Middle East, and Africa (MEA).
Counterpoint notes that the mid-price segment’s presence in the top-10 best-selling smartphones is expected to remain strong, driven by the integration of GenAI features. This apparently makes the segment more competitive, delivers greater value to consumers, and further bridges the gap between flagship models.
