New Delhi: Apple’s iPhone 16 was the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025 (January-March period), according to a new report released on Wednesday.
This also marked the return of the iPhone series’ base variant to the top spot in the first quarter after a gap of two years, according to Counterpoint Research’s ‘Global Handset Model Sales Tracker’. Apple maintained its strong presence in the top-10 list, securing five spots for the fifth consecutive March quarter.
Meanwhile, Samsung featured one fewer model compared to the same period last year. While the top 10 smartphones’ share in overall global sales remained stable, the low-end (less than $100) smartphones in the top 10 saw an increase in their contribution, the report noted.
The iPhone 16 performed well in Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), with Japan recording the highest growth in base variant sales.Improved economic conditions and revised subsidy regulations favoured Apple’s pricing strategy and ecosystem, further strengthening its appeal in the Japanese market. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro ranked second and third in the list, respectively. Apple’s iPhone 16e made a strong debut, securing the sixth spot in the global top-10 list for March 2025, its first full month of sales.
