Despite its age and stiff competition from Android flagships, the iPhone 16 was the bestselling smartphone in the world in the third quarter of 2025. More impressively, a new report from Counterpoint Research indicates iPhones bagged the top four slots.
Even the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which launched toward the end of the quarter, made the list.
iPhone 16 overcomes demand fears to rule the chart
Apple has seen strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. Thanks to the renewed consumer interest, it’s on track for a bumper holiday quarter. It’s so popular, Apple supposedly will surpass Samsung as the world’s biggest smartphone maker this year.
Before the iPhone 17 arrived, reports suggested lukewarm demand for the iPhone 16. Sales in China, in particular, caused concern, falling sharply. Despite all this, Counterpoint Research data points to the iPhone 16 being the world’s bestselling smartphone globally in the third quarter of 2025.
In terms of volume, iPhone 16 garnered a 4% share in its third consecutive quarter at the top.
Photo: Counterpoint Research
The iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 16e took the second, third and fourth slots, respectively.
Robust festive sales in India helped
Typically, iPhone sales slow down in the third quarter in anticipation of new models on the way. However, the report says festive promotions in India and a sustained recovery in demand in Japan helped restrict the seasonal sales decline.
In other markets, like the United States, United Kingdom and China, the iPhone 16 Pro saw a steeper decline.
For Apple, the iPhone 16’s sustained popularity is an improvement — in the fourth quarter of 2024, the iPhone 15 lineup secured the top three slots. Even more impressive is that the data points to the iPhone 17 Pro Max being the bestselling phone in September 2025. That helped it secure the No. 10 position, despite a late launch.
Samsung was the only other manufacturer to make the list. Its midrange Galaxy phones took the fifth to ninth positions. The Galaxy A16 5G was the highest-selling Android phone in the quarter, followed by the A06, A36 and A56.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
