(Image source from: Apple)

According to a report from a market research company, Apple was ranked as the top seller of smartphones worldwide in the third quarter of 2025. The technology company based in Cupertino filled the first four positions, led by various models from its iPhone 16 series. Samsung also placed five models in the top 10 best-selling smartphones, but none were from its main Galaxy S or Galaxy Z-series. This report shows that the top 10 phones made up a 20 percent share of the overall smartphone market. As stated by Counterpoint Research's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, the iPhone 16 held the title of the best-selling smartphone around the globe in Q3 2025. This phone led the market for the third time in a row, achieving a 4 percent share of sales. The market analysis indicates that festive promotions in India and a steady recovery in Japan helped last year's basic model from Apple limit the seasonal dip after the introduction of the iPhone 17 series.

In addition, two other Apple phones — the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max — occupied the second and third positions, even though they saw a larger drop in sales as more customers chose the iPhone 17 models in key markets like China, the UK, and the US. A surprising addition is the iPhone 16e, which secured the fourth position, despite having fewer features and appealing to those who merely want a basic iPhone. Overall, Apple had five models in the rankings, with its high-end iPhone 17 Pro Max also landing in the top 10 at the tenth spot. Besides Apple, Samsung was the only other company to have smartphones included in the top 10 list. All of Samsung's models belonged to the more affordable Galaxy A-series. The Galaxy A16 5G took the fifth position, closely followed by the Galaxy A06, Galaxy A36, Galaxy A56, and Galaxy A16 4G. According to the research note, the presence of mid-range models in the top 10 list is likely to continue, fueled by the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. It is said that these features make the mid-range segment more competitive, provide more value to customers, and enhance the user experience similar to the flagship models.

Notably, none of the Samsung Galaxy S or Galaxy Z-series smartphones made it to the top 10 list.