The world’s best-selling smartphone for the first quarter of 2025 is a surprise entry, with the iPhone 16 receiving the accolade by defying the odds and surpassing the feature-enriched iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. During the same period last year, the iPhone 15 was just one position away from obtaining the same title as Apple’s current-generation base model, losing only to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In total, the Cupertino firm’s handsets occupy five positions in the latest list, with the remaining spots captured by Xiaomi and Samsung.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra carves a place in the best-selling list, obtaining seventh position, beating the iPhone 16 Plus
Newly published data from Counterpoint Research revealed that the iPhone 16 Pro was the second-best-selling smartphone for Q1 2025, followed by the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max. While no reason was provided concerning the shift in the consumer’s purchasing mindset, it is likely that the majority of buyers compared the specifications of the iPhone 16 with the rest of Apple’s flagship lineup and concluded that the ‘Pro’ models do not offer a significant number of exclusive features to justify their premium pricing.
The base model not only comes with the A18, which is barely slower than the A18 Pro powering iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it also shares the same RAM count of 8GB. For running games and generative AI features, the 6.1-inch handset is on par with the Apple’s more expensive offerings, with customers only having to bear the trade-offs that include fewer cameras at the back, a non-titanium alloy chassis, and a 60Hz OLED panel, with the latest evidence suggesting that these upgrades are not worth spending the extra money.
Q1 2024’s runner-up, the iPhone 15, still managed to gain some traction for Q1 2025, securing fourth place, while Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy A16 5G obtained fifth place and was the Korean giant’s most popular smartphone for the latest quarter. The Galaxy S25 Ultra was the only flagship from the company to find a place in the top 10, with Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C 4G managing to make some room in the list.
Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 16 Plus was dead last, which is likely why Apple is expected to drop its immediate successor in favor of the iPhone 17 Air. The California-based titan’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max experienced stiff competition in China due to the government’s subsidies favoring sub-6,000 yuan (approximately $833), along with Huawei’s rise. Given that China is the world’s largest smartphone market by volume, Apple’s pricier options might not have been able to secure the top two positions in this list because of steep challenges in the region.
News Source: Counterpoint Research
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
