For the first time in its history, iPhones are outselling Samsung smartphones in the first quarter? Maybe, maybe not... Explanations.
The three main market analysis firms, Counterpoint, Canalys and IDC, use different methodologies to evaluate the sales figures of the main smartphone manufacturers. Thus, even if their conclusions remain similar, some disparities can appear, which is the case for this first quarter of 2025.
Domination of the smartphone market in the first quarter of 2025, analysts' quarrel££££
Indeed, according to Counterpoint Research, Apple has passed Samsung for the first time (in a first calendar quarter) with a market share of 19% (18% for the Korean), and a growth of 3% compared to the same period last year. However, Canalys places Samsung first with 60.5 million units sold and 20% market share, for a modest growth of 1%, and Apple second with 55 million and 19% market share with a more marked increase of 13%. IDC also considers that the Korean is in the lead with 60.6 million smartphones sold and Apple second with 57.9 million.
The arrival of the iPhone 16th shakes up the usual hierarchy££££
Samsung marketing its premium models at the beginning of the year, it is consistent that the company systematically grabs the first position of smartphone sellers in the first quarter of each year. However, Apple released for the first time in February a new iPhone complementary to its main range, the iPhone 16th, which probably altered the results at the beginning of the year in the future (see our news Release schedule disrupted for future iPhones?).
