The iPhone 16 is expected to be the best-selling in the world in 2025

A key structural change is the consolidation of 5G. For the first time, the five best-selling mobile phones were models with this technology.

12/11/2025 – 09:37 am

A new report on the global market for Mobile phone revealed a clear photo of consumer preferences, reaffirming the hegemony of the premium segment, but focusing the battle for volume on the mid-range with advanced connectivity.

According to the latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker from consulting firm Counterpoint Research, that is iPhone 16 Apple was named the world’s best-selling mobile phone in the third quarter of 2025, maintaining its leadership position for the third consecutive year.

This basic model from the Californian company conquered one 4% of the world shareand thus showed clear resistance to the usual decline in sales after the introduction of a new generation.

iPhone 16 performance was particularly strong in key markets such as Japanwhere it saw a significant rebound, and in India, driven by aggressive holiday promotions.

The best-selling mobile phones in the world in the third quarter of 2025

Apple and Samsung dominate, but with opposite strategies

The global top ten is split equally between the two giants of the mobile phone industry: Apple and Samsung five models each. However, the strategy of both companies is significantly different.

Apple focused its success on the upper and upper middle class. Despite the dominance of the iPhone 16, the real surprise came with the brand new model iPhone 17 Pro Maxwhich reached tenth place in the global ranking within just a few weeks and established itself as the best-selling mobile phone in September alone.

Counterpoint analysts attribute this brilliant earnings to a Wave of replacements of devices purchased during the pandemic and essentially integrating an unprecedented professional camera kit into the series with 48MP sensors, features like ProRes RAW and a powerful 8x telephoto lens, all powered by the A19 Pro chip.

For its part, Samsung was able to maintain its massive presence thanks to the series Galaxy Aan undeniable pillar in the mid-range of mobile phones. The Galaxy A16 5G has been positioned as the best-selling Android model in the world.

Although the Korean company consolidated its sales volume with this line, the series was completely lacking Galaxy S in the list of ten bestsellers contrasts with previous years and reflects the dependence on the mass segment. Models like the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 fueled this growth by incorporating artificial intelligence features previously only found in their flagships.

The 5G standard is being consolidated

A key structural change is the consolidation of 5G. For the first time, The five best-selling mobile phones worldwide in the quarter were models with this technologywhich underlines that high-speed connection has become a decisive purchasing factor even in the entry-level segment.

Looking ahead to 2026, predictions suggest that the mid-range will continue to be crucial, driven by the integration of generative AI into more affordable hardware. However, the momentum and strong initial demand for the iPhone 17 Pro Max suggests otherwise Premium market Apple will continue to set the pace when it comes to profitability and adoption of cutting-edge technologies.