Apple’s iPhone has achieved the highest global smartphone sales market share in a Q1 for the first time ever, according to a Counterpoint Research report on global smartphone sales for Q1 2025.
In Q1 2025, global smartphone sales were slightly up overall. Apple’s iPhone garnered 19% of global smartphone sales, marking a significant milestone. The success of the iPhone 16e launch contributed to Apple’s overall sales achievement, although specific sales numbers for the new model are not available.
Apple’s market share grew by 4%, while Samsung’s decreased by 5%. Samsung had 18% of global smartphone sales, trailing behind Apple. Samsung’s sales experienced a double-digit growth in March after the launch of the S25 series and new A-series devices. However, this was not enough to maintain their lead in Q1, as they had a slow start due to the late launch of the S25 series.
The data from Counterpoint Research highlights the shift in the global smartphone market. Apple’s achievement is in large part due to Samsung’s poor year-over-year performance. While the iPhone grew 4% for the quarter, Samsung saw a 5% sales dip. It is remarkable that Apple can still set new iPhone records despite its previous successes.
