Smartphone market: lost in 2011, the iPhone is expected to regain first place in 2025

Thanks in particular to the success of the iPhone 17 range, Apple should regain its title as the world's best-selling smartphone manufacturer, a title it has held since 2011, having lost to other manufacturers – notably Samsung. iPhone sales in 2025, +10% in volume. This is what Counterpoint Research, via Bloomberg, reveals, announcing a 10% growth in iPhone distribution in 2025 compared to 2024, compared to +4.6% for Samsung. Apple would thus capture 19.4% of the total market this year, 3.3% more than the previous year. The United States and China are very favorable markets for the iPhone in 2025. The Chinese and American markets are largely responsible for this success, with sales volume 14% higher in the first ten days after launch in these regions, between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 ranges, not to mention a record October in China, with 37% more sales compared to 2024. A weak dollar and a favorable exchange rate also contributed to this record. Another factor is timing, since buyers who purchased an iPhone during the Covid period decided it was time to replace their device. In addition, 358 million used iPhones were sold between 2023 and 2025, representing a significant number of potential customers for device replacement. The coming years should also be dominated by Apple, with the expectation of unique and exciting new devices. The foldable iPhone is expected in 2026, and the iPhone celebrating the smartphone's 20th anniversary is expected in 2027.