Apple will reportedly surpass Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone maker this year. The strong sales of Phone 17 will help the company reclaim the crown in more than a decade.
Strong consumer interest in the new iPhones has led to double-digit growth in sales, which will make this achievement possible.
Strong iPhone 17 sales could help Apple regain lost crown
All major Android smartphones launched this year have heavily focused on AI integration. But with Apple falling behind in the AI race, it focused on redesigning the iPhone 17 Pro.
The lineup received its most significant redesign in years. Additionally, the company equipped the phones with a larger battery for longer battery life. And it finally added a vapor cooling chamber for enhanced heat dissipation.
Even the base iPhone 17 got a big upgrade this year, with an A19 chip, a 120Hz ProMotion display and double the base storage. Despite these improvements, the iPhone 17 lineup costs the same as its predecessor.
It’s the combination of these upgrades and the price that has supposedly made the iPhone 17 a big hit among consumers.
A Bloomberg report cites data from Counterpoint Research, which indicates iPhone shipments will grow by 10% in 2025. That’s significantly higher than 4.6% for Samsung. This will allow Apple to apparently claim 19.4% of the market, beating Samsung and making it the world’s largest smartphone maker. The company last held this position in 2011 — 14 years ago.
No wonder Apple also expects to have a record-breaking holiday quarter, with around $140 billion in revenue.
Apple could hold the crown for the nect few years
While sales of flagship Samsung phones have increased this year, sales of budget models have declined.
Counterpoint Research analyst Yang Wang believes Apple will further extend its lead in 2026. The launch of a foldable iPhone and the more affordable iPhone 17e will help boost sales. And in 2027, another major iPhone design revamp will give sales a push.
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.
