According to a new industry report, Apple’s smartphone market share reached a historic high in 2025, positioning the company as the new global leader with a 20% stake. This significant achievement was driven by a record 10% annual growth, the highest rate among the top five brands, allowing Apple to surpass its closest competitors in a dynamic market.
How Apple’s Smartphone Market Share Reached the Top
The global smartphone market demonstrated a positive trend in 2025, expanding by 2% year-over-year. This growth was fueled by two key factors: an increasing consumer trend towards premium devices, often facilitated by flexible financing options, and the wider adoption of 5G technology in developing nations. Consequently, these conditions created a fertile ground for premium brands to flourish.
Apple capitalized on this environment by strategically strengthening its presence in emerging and mid-tier markets. The company successfully met the rising demand in these regions, which became a cornerstone of its success. Furthermore, the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 17 series in the final quarter of 2025 provided a substantial sales boost. This was complemented by the outstanding performance of the older iPhone 16 models in key markets like Japan, India, and Southeast Asia.
Another contributing factor was the culmination of the device renewal cycle that began during the pandemic. Millions of users who had purchased devices a few years prior were now ready for an upgrade, and a significant portion chose Apple. This surge in upgrades helped Apple achieve its highest-ever quarterly market share in Q4 2025, accounting for a quarter of all global smartphone sales.
Competitor Landscape and Future Projections
While Apple celebrated its top position, its main rivals also saw growth, albeit at a more modest pace. Samsung secured the second spot with a 19% market share, reflecting a 5% annual increase. Following behind, Xiaomi maintained its third-place position, holding a 13% share of the global market.
However, industry analysts are adopting a more cautious outlook for 2026. According to research director Tarun Pathak, the market is expected to face headwinds. “The global smartphone market is projected to slow down in 2026 due to potential DRAM/NAND shortages and rising component costs, as chip manufacturers prioritize AI data centers over smartphones,” he stated. This has led the research firm to revise its 2026 forecast downward by 3%.
Despite these potential challenges, both Apple and Samsung are expected to be more resilient than their competitors. Their robust and well-established supply chain capabilities are predicted to provide a significant advantage in navigating the anticipated component shortages and maintaining production stability.
So, what are your thoughts on Apple’s dominance in the smartphone market? Share your opinions with us in the comments!
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