Apple Poised to Become World’s Top Smartphone Seller for the First Time in 14 Years
Islamabad: For the first time in 14 years, Apple is on the verge of becoming the world’s leading smartphone seller in annual sales, overtaking South Korea’s Samsung.
From 2011 to 2024, Samsung consistently held the position as the world’s top smartphone manufacturer. However, the exceptional success of Apple’s iPhone 17 series has positioned the company to claim the No. 1 spot in 2025.
According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, an organization that tracks global mobile device sales, Apple’s rise is not temporary. The report suggests that this upward trend is likely to continue at least until 2029.
The report reveals that during the third quarter of 2025, iPhone sales increased by 9% compared to the same period last year. The iPhone 17 series performed significantly better than expected, while Samsung recorded a 4.6% increase in smartphone sales over the same timeframe.
Counterpoint Research noted that many users are replacing older iPhones, contributing to a major boost in Apple’s revenue. A large number of consumers who purchased smartphones during the COVID-19 pandemic are now upgrading their devices.
The report further highlighted that more than 350 million older iPhones were sold between 2023 and the second quarter of 2025. Many of these users are expected to shift to new iPhone models in the coming years, strengthening Apple’s market position even further.
