All articles tagged with #counterpoint research
Apple’s iPhone 17 led global smartphone sales in Q1 2026, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max a distant second and the iPhone 17 Pro in third; Samsung’s Galaxy A-series models filled several top-10 spots, while Apple’s iPhone 16 declined, raising questions about the trajectory of future releases like the iPhone Air and iPhone 18.
Counterpoint Research ranks Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Pro as the world’s top-selling smartphones for Q4 2025, with the Pro Max capturing about 5% of global smartphone sales; Samsung’s Galaxy lineup also performed well but couldn’t surpass Apple’s Q4 2025 dominance.
Counterpoint Research names Apple's iPhone 16 as the world's best-selling smartphone of 2025, placing it at number one in a top-10 dominated by Apple devices. While the iPhone 16 features a 48MP main camera (26mm f/1.6), it lacks ProRAW, long optical zoom, and a dedicated telephoto, making it strong for everyday use but not the best choice for photography; Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra and other camera-focused models offer more advanced imaging capabilities, illustrating that sales success isn't the same as camera supremacy.
Global smartphone sales rebounded in October, growing 5% YoY after declining for 27 consecutive months. The recovery was driven by emerging markets, including the Middle East, Africa, and China, as well as the onset of the festive season in India. Huawei experienced the fastest growth among smartphone makers in China, while the launch of Apple's iPhone 15 series also contributed to the boost in sales. Despite challenges such as component shortages and longer replacement cycles, Counterpoint Research expects the global smartphone market to continue growing in Q4 2023.
Huawei has sold 1.6 million Mate 60 Pro handsets in just six weeks, with over 400,000 units sold in the last two weeks alone, according to research firm Counterpoint. This comes as Huawei defies the smartphone slowdown and enjoys strong demand for its high-end smartphones. The launch of the Mate 60 Pro, which uses a domestically made chip, has been met with high demand and limited availability. In contrast, iPhone 15 sales in China were down 4.5% compared to the iPhone 14 in the first 17 days. Huawei, Honor, and Transsion Group were the only brands to record year-on-year growth in the global smartphone market, which contracted by 8% in the third quarter.
The global smartphone market contracted by 8% in Q3, reaching its lowest level in a decade, due to subdued demand for major brands like Apple and Samsung in developed markets, according to Counterpoint Research. The top five brands' market share fell to a three-year low. However, overall shipments rose 2% industrywide from Q2, raising hopes for a potential recovery in the last three months of the year. Counterpoint expects the release of the iPhone 15 lineup and upcoming festive season promotions to support market growth. Emerging markets, particularly the Middle East and Africa, have been a bright spot for smartphone sales.
Apple has the opportunity to become the global leader in smartphone shipments for the first time, as consumers hold onto their smartphones for longer, resulting in an expected 6% decline in overall shipments this year. With the upcoming launch of the iPhone 15 in September, Apple is expected to attract high-value customers and benefit from aggressive promotions. Counterpoint Research projects that Apple is the closest it has ever been to capturing the top spot, with Samsung currently holding the position.
Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline by 6% in 2023, reaching the lowest point in a decade, due to economic headwinds in China and declining demand in emerging markets. However, Apple's high-end iPhone sales remain resilient, positioning the company to potentially become the top player in terms of shipments this year. Counterpoint Research suggests that the launch of the iPhone 15 in September could further strengthen Apple's position, particularly in markets like China where there is a growing trend towards premium devices. The reception of the iPhone 15 and Apple's performance in non-core markets will determine if it surpasses Samsung as the number one smartphone maker this year.