The iPhone 16 topped global sales in first quarter 2025, giving Apple a strong lead even as budget Android phones gained ground.
Apple’s iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone in Q1 2025, regaining the top spot for the base model after a two-year hiatus. The company secured five of Counterpoint Research’s top 10 rankings, maintaining its momentum despite market shifts.
At the same time, demand for ultra-cheap Android phones soared, especially in emerging markets. The $100-and-under segment now makes up nearly one in five smartphones sold worldwide.
Base iPhone returns to form while Pro models hold steady
Sales of the iPhone 16 surged in Japan, the Middle East and Africa. In Japan, looser subsidy rules and a steadier economy made Apple’s pricing strategy more appealing. The base iPhone’s performance there was the strongest it’s been in years.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro weren’t far behind, taking the second and third spots globally. They hit a wall in China, though. Local subsidies encouraged shoppers to pick devices under 6,000 yuan — roughly $830 — while Huawei and other domestic brands kept the pressure on in the premium space.
Even so, the Pro models still made up nearly half of all iPhone sales for the third quarter in a row.
Also notable was the iPhone 16e, which landed at number six in March despite it being its first full month on shelves. It’s more expensive than the 2022 iPhone SE, but the tradeoff is a much better feature set.
Analysts expect the 16e to beat the iPhone SE’s first-year numbers by a wide margin.
Budget Android phones make gains, but Apple holds its ground
Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G took fifth place after launching in North America in January. It saw 17% growth from last year’s A15, with a third of its global sales coming from the U.S.
The Galaxy A16 also did well in Latin America, Africa and across Asia, where budget 5G phones are picking up steam. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra came in seventh. It would likely have ranked higher if it had launched earlier in the quarter.
Even with limited time on the market, the Galaxy S25 Ultra still accounted for a quarter of Samsung’s phone sales in March. Samsung is leaning harder into AI in 2025, with the S25 series offering built-in Gemini support for tasks like writing, organizing and planning.
Another budget Samsung phone, the Galaxy A06, climbed four spots from its predecessor’s rank in 2024. That growth mirrors a bigger trend.
Demand for sub-$100 smartphones jumped across the board as supply chain bottlenecks eased and low-cost parts became more available.
Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C was the only model in the top 10 not made by Apple or Samsung. It posted a 43% jump over the Redmi 13C, fueled by buyers in Latin America and Africa. Xiaomi continues to dominate the low-cost Android space with simple, reliable devices at aggressive prices.
Even with tariffs and market volatility still in play, the top 10 smartphones are expected to hold steady through the year. High-end models keep pulling interest with advanced features, while basic phones fill in the gaps where affordability comes first.
