Apple Leads 2025 Smartphone Market with 20% Share

Apple has emerged as the leader in the global smartphone market for 2025, capturing a 20 percent share and posting the strongest year-over-year shipment growth among major brands, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research. The achievement marks a shift after years of close competition with Samsung, as global smartphone shipments overall rose two percent from the previous year, fueled by demand in emerging markets.

Counterpoint's data shows Apple surpassing Samsung, which held second place with a 19 percent market share and modest shipment increases. Xiaomi ranked third at 13 percent, benefiting from consistent demand in developing regions. The report, released on January 12, highlights Apple's 10 percent year-over-year growth, double that of Samsung, as the highest among the top five vendors. This performance propelled Apple ahead in a market that had seen both companies tied at 19 percent in 2023 and 18 percent in 2024, when growth from Chinese brands began eroding their dominance.

The success stemmed from several factors. Strong sales of the iPhone 17 series, launched in the fourth quarter, drove significant traction worldwide, particularly in emerging and...