iPhone 16 Is the World’s Best-Selling Smartphone in Q3 2025

Apple's iPhone 16 emerged as the world's best-selling smartphone in Q3 2025, according to new data from Counterpoint Research. Despite the launch of the newer iPhone 17 series, the iPhone 16 maintained strong demand globally, helping Apple secure the top position with a 4% share of quarterly smartphone sales. 

Apple and Samsung dominate the top-10 best-selling smartphones list

A key driver behind the sustained success of the iPhone 16 was the Indian market, where the festive-season events boosted demand and sales. The report also highlights a notable recovery in Japan, further supporting the iPhone 16's performance during what is typically a transition quarter for Apple's lineup. 

This isn't surprising since an earlier report from IDC revealed that Apple led smartphone shipments in China in October and November 2025, thanks to the new iPhone 17 series. 

Moving on, as per the latest rankings from Counterpoint, Apple and Samsung each captured five spots in the global top-10 list, together accounting for nearly 20% of all smartphone shipments for the quarter. This marks the first time the top-10 chart has been evenly split between two smartphone giants, reaffirming their stronghold over the global market. 

Counterpoint's analysts noted that all the top five positions were secured by 5G phones. The report also points out that mid-range phones continue dominating the overall market volume, especially in price-sensitive regions like India. 

With the industry heading into the year-end cycle, expect to see wider 5G adoption and stronger mid-tier competition. However, for now, Apple and Samsung remain unchallenged at the top, with the iPhone 16 leading the global sales charts for yet another quarter.