Apple Set To Become World's Top Phone Maker, Overtaking Samsung

Apple will retake its crown as the world's largest smartphone maker for the first time in more than a decade, lifted by the successful debut of a new iPhone series and a rush of consumers upgrading devices, according to Counterpoint Research. From a report: The iPhone 17 models introduced in September have been a hit both domestically in the US and in Apple's other critical market, China. They've enticed more people to upgrade, leading to double-digit year-over-year sales growth in both markets, according to the researchers. The US company also is benefiting from a cooling of US-China trade tensions and a depreciating dollar that has boosted purchases in emerging markets, they added. The growth will propel Apple past longtime rival Samsung this year, according to Counterpoint's figures. Shipments of the iPhone are set to grow at 10% in 2025, compared with 4.6% for Samsung.

Oh well ...

[PPH]

... it's back to noodles then.

Re:

[GoTeam]

... it's back to noodles then.

Which noodles? Careful with your reply, the answer is more important than you could ever imagine...

Re:

[PPH]

The ones Samsung got their start making.

Re:

[registrations_suck]

Fortunately, Apple was smart enough to not to give away a bunch of hardware sales.

Why?

[GoTeam]

I have an iPhone 13. Still works. I don't see a reason to upgrade. What about the 17 is so special that it causes "a rush of consumers upgrading devices"? If there is more text beyond the paywall that explains the change, I won't see it. Just looking at the features available, nothing looks compelling enough to trigger a buying frenzy. Maybe an old popular model is no longer supported? The economic explanation is silly. The tariff / diplomacy with China can't be a reason because those issues didn't exist until this year.

Re:

[ArmoredDragon]

What about the 17 is so special that it causes "a rush of consumers upgrading devices"?

It has a bigger number and a half-eaten apple, duh. Why do you think ArchieBunker was the first in line?

Re: Why?

[supabeast!]

Conspicuous consumption. People want to be seen with the flashy array of cameras on the latest high end iPhone.

Re:

[Asynchronously]

Do you say the same thing about people who buy a new Android phone every year?

Re:

[sit1963nz]

Yes.

Its a tool, its does its job, so zero need to upgrade.

I am far more likely to buy a used/refurbished one than a new one.
And I certainly don't need all the wank features. I have no updated my iPhone 11 to IOS 26 because the liquid glass BS just takes up CPU time etc with zero improvements (and probably detrimental) in use..

My M1 mac mini at works runs OSX26, because it need to for work, but my M3 MBP does not, because 26 pisses me off because of the stupid UI changes (eg the "send" button in mai

Re:Why?

[fropenn]

You can trade-in iPhone 13 right now for $180 toward a iPhone 17. Given that there is no trade-in value for an iPhone 12, I suspect this is the last fall season where you'll be able to get a trade-in value for iPhone 13, at least direct from Apple (3rd party buyers might still offer rebates and cash on trade-ins). That incentive is enough to push some users to upgrade.

Feature-wise, battery life is much better on the 17 than the 13 (especially an old one), the camera is much, much better (especially for the Instagram crowd) and overall speed. But if the 13 works for you, that's great, keep it as long as possible. It keeps more junk out of the landfill.

Re:

[GoTeam]

Feature-wise, battery life is much better on the 17 than the 13 (especially an old one), the camera is much, much better (especially for the Instagram crowd) and overall speed. But if the 13 works for you, that's great, keep it as long as possible. It keeps more junk out of the landfill.

I probably just crossed some age line where "everything I have now is good enough dammit!"

Re:

[93 Escort Wagon]

I probably just crossed some age line where "everything I have now is good enough dammit!"

I am still using a 13 Pro Max, so you're not alone.

This whole "buy a new expensive phone every year or two" mentality has always bugged me. Yes, "battery life is better" on a new phone versus a not-new phone... but the question SHOULD be "is the battery life on that not-new phone actually an issue?". And yes, the cameras on a new phone are probably better, but is there an actual practical difference the end user will actually see?

A lot of those arguments seem to be post hoc justifications for a purchase dec

Re:

[antdude]

If Apple still sold newer small and light iPhones models like its minis and SE, then I would get the newer models. :(

Re:

[registrations_suck]

I feel the same way about my iPhone 16.

Now that I have a USB-C port, I don't think I'll ever "upgrade". I intend to have this phone for the remainder of my life.

The only reason I can see to replace it is if I break it....which the only reason I've ever replaced a phone until I bought this one. In this case, I wanted the USB-C port and traded in a working phone for it.

Re:

[sit1963nz]

I am still on my iPhone 11.
It does everything I need, there is zero need for me to shell out a large sum of money to get a newer one.

If you have one as a fashion item, or something to flash around pretending you are cool/rich.... then Meh to you.

There are far more interesting things to spend my money on, eg upgrading my Lathe, buying a mill, 3D printer etc.

Re: Why?

[keysdisease]

We still have iPhone 12 Minis. Max battery capacity on both is down in the high seventies. We will probably upgrade to the next new model. Thing is we will miss these little one. Never been phans of phablets

Re:

[ToasterMonkey]

I have an iPhone 13. Still works. I don't see a reason to upgrade. What about the 17 is so special that it causes "a rush of consumers upgrading devices"? If there is more text beyond the paywall that explains the change, I won't see it. Just looking at the features available, nothing looks compelling enough to trigger a buying frenzy. Maybe an old popular model is no longer supported? The economic explanation is silly. The tariff / diplomacy with China can't be a reason because those issues didn't exist until this year.

Most people don't upgrade their computers every year. Every year, people upgrade their computers. s/computer/car/wives/husbands/toasters/wtfe/etc
Slashdot: "Why?/? My old one works perfectly fine!11"

You all crack me up sometimes. Was last year's model boring, because it could be that simple. Stop looking at your individual case and look at the big picture. Every year some people are going to upgrade, or buy new ones for growing families. Lots of little things can make them hold off a year or two or pull the

Clearly this calls for

[rsilvergun]

Another massive round of layoffs.

Re:

[EvilSS]

Apple did just do a round of layoffs with their sales team but that's the exception not the rule for them. They vary rarely do layoffs. They seem to manage their staffing levels better than most of the other tech companies.

Samsung makes 200 million more

[quenda]

Considering that Apple has never actually made any phones.
Apple used to make computers, but closed the last factory in 1996.

When China takes, or isolates, Taiwan, what will become of Apple?

Apple is a weird company

[Anonymous Cward]

Apple is so flush with build capacity right now, they started pumping out laptops using their lower end mobile technology, all of which can be recycled later in other product lines, given the number of people happy to trade-up and how small the footprint of their SoCs are. Apple already takes extensive advantage of this for other parts already, including cameras. Sure, it would knock out bleeding edge innovation for a few years but that would equally impact a lot of key ARM and x86 rivals too.

As lower end

Samsung is meh

[nicubunu]

I don't understand why someone would buy a Samsung phone, there are are plenty of more interesting Android alternatives.