Apple Projected to Top Smartphone Market in 2025

Apple is projected to reclaim its position as the world's largest smartphone manufacturer in 2025, surpassing Samsung for the first time since 2011, according to research firm Counterpoint Research. The California-based company anticipates shipping 243 million iPhones next year, securing a 19.4 percent share of the global market, while Samsung expects to ship 235 million units for an 18.7 percent share.

The shift stems from robust demand for Apple's iPhone 17 series, launched in September. Counterpoint reported double-digit year-over-year sales growth in key markets, including a 12 percent increase in the United States during the first four weeks after launch and an 18 percent rise in China. October sales in China jumped 37 percent compared to the previous year, marking a record for the company. Overall, iPhone shipments are forecast to grow 10 percent in 2025, outpacing the global smartphone market's expected 3.3 percent expansion.

Analysts attribute much of this momentum to an upgrade cycle among consumers who purchased devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Beyond the highly positive market reception for the iPhone 17 series, the key driver behind the upgraded shipment...