The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has released Turkey’s mobile device sales data for the first quarter of 2025. The report revealed that the smartphone market experienced one of the sharpest declines in recent years, and that the leadership position has changed hands. While total phone sales decreased by 12%, Apple defied this decline, increasing its sales and overtaking its arch-rival Samsung to become the new leader.
The Phone Market Started the Year with a Sharp Decline
According to BTK data based on IMEI records, a total of 2.78 million phones were registered in Turkey in the first three months of 2025. This figure was 3.16 million in the same period last year. This significant 12% contraction marked the weakest start to the smartphone market in recent years. Another noteworthy point in the report is that the overall mobile device market remained largely stable, thanks to the increase in sales of other mobile devices such as tablets, modems, and smartwatches. This suggests that the contraction was particularly concentrated in the smartphone segment.
The first quarter of the year saw a complete shift in the competitive landscape. Here are the top three smartphone brands in Turkey:
Apple: 912,000 units
Samsung: 829,000 units
Redmi: 452,000 units
Apple topped the list with 912,000 units sold. The American tech giant was the only major brand to defy the negative market trend, increasing its sales by a remarkable 14.26% compared to the same period last year. This strong performance propelled Apple ahead of long-time leader Samsung.
Samsung, which ranked second on the list, experienced a sharp decline. With 829,000 units sold in the first quarter, the company saw a 16.68% loss in market share compared to the previous year. Xiaomi’s sub-brand, Redmi, came in third with 452,000 units sold. Known for its affordable models, Redmi also saw a 14.87% decline in sales.
These three brands maintained their dominance in Turkey, accounting for 73.5% of the total market. The data indicates that while the Turkish smartphone market is shrinking in volume, consumer preferences are strengthening in the premium segment.
