Apple led the global smartphone market in 2025, placing seven iPhones in the top ten best-selling devices. The base iPhone 17 stood out by reaching seventh place, a sharp jump from where the base iPhone 16 ranked the year before. The results reinforce a growing view that Apple’s non-Pro model now offers the best balance for most buyers.
Counterpoint Research released the full-year 2025 rankings in its latest market report. Since the data covers the entire year, the iPhone 16 finished as the world’s best-selling smartphone, ahead of newer models that launched later.
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Top 10 best-selling smartphones of 2025
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Galaxy A16 5G
- Galaxy A06 4G
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 15
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- iPhone 16e
What drew the most attention was the base iPhone 17’s performance. It climbed to seventh place, while the base iPhone 16 only managed tenth place in 2024. This shift shows stronger demand for Apple’s standard model, even as Pro variants remain popular.
“The base iPhone 17 model has been the standout performer this year, offering meaningful upgrades that bring it closer than ever to the Pro variants.”
The iPhone 17 series posted 16 percent higher sales than its predecessor during its first full quarter. Strong demand in the US, China, and Western Europe drove that growth. Buyers responded to clear upgrades, including a higher refresh rate, more RAM, and larger base storage.
Samsung still held key positions. The Galaxy A16 5G became the best-selling Android phone of 2025, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra ranked ninth and saw strong year-over-year growth in Japan. Apple’s lower-priced iPhone 16e also added volume, giving buyers a cheaper entry point into the lineup.
Looking ahead, Counterpoint expects premium models to gain more share in 2026, as rising memory costs squeeze budget devices. For now, Apple’s 2025 results show one clear trend: the base iPhone has become a central driver of its global success.
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