Seven of the World's Ten Best-Selling Smartphones in 2025 Were iPhones (counterpointresearch.com) 57
Apple sold seven of the ten best-selling smartphones globally in 2025, a lopsided dominance that underscores how thoroughly the company controls the premium end of the mobile market.
The iPhone 16 was the single best-selling phone worldwide, and Apple's presence extended all the way down to the tenth spot where the iPhone 16e -- its newest budget-friendly option -- found consistent demand in Japan and the U.S., according to Counterpoint.
Samsung accounted for the remaining three positions, led by the Galaxy A16 5G as the best-selling Android device of the year. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also made the cut, marking the second straight year a Samsung flagship cracked the top ten. Together these ten phones from just two companies represented 19% of all smartphones sold during the year, continuing a four-year streak of Apple-Samsung exclusivity at the top.
The iPhone 16 was the single best-selling phone worldwide, and Apple's presence extended all the way down to the tenth spot where the iPhone 16e -- its newest budget-friendly option -- found consistent demand in Japan and the U.S., according to Counterpoint.
Samsung accounted for the remaining three positions, led by the Galaxy A16 5G as the best-selling Android device of the year. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also made the cut, marking the second straight year a Samsung flagship cracked the top ten. Together these ten phones from just two companies represented 19% of all smartphones sold during the year, continuing a four-year streak of Apple-Samsung exclusivity at the top.
Apples and Oranges (Score:1)
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only one source for iOS devices. Many sources for Android.
Are there?
Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three.
Makes you also wonder what the chances are of becoming a valid competitor by merely listening to what the consumer actually wants instead of turning them into The Product like everyone else does.
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Why does five vs. three matter? Because it's your argument?
And why does IOS vs. Android matter anyway? It's literally a reason to choose. Historically, MacOS has been available only on Macs, THE reason Mac marketshare was low. Now it's the reason iPhone marketshare is high?
Re:Apples and Oranges (Score:4, Insightful)
Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three.
That's the whole point. With Android, it does not matter for the average consumer what brand it is. It does not even matter that it is Android. It's just a generic smartphone, it can install the apps they want, and people will buy whatever fits their budget and their needs, ignorant about brand and operating system. For a single vendor, it is complicated to have one model sell in large numbers, because they are generic. Or do you know what farm your potatoes come from? It's potatoes. That's all that matters.
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Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three.
That's the whole point. With Android, it does not matter for the average consumer what brand it is. It does not even matter that it is Android. It's just a generic smartphone, it can install the apps they want, and people will buy whatever fits their budget and their needs, ignorant about brand and operating system. For a single vendor, it is complicated to have one model sell in large numbers, because they are generic. Or do you know what farm your potatoes come from? It's potatoes. That's all that matters.
If brands didn't matter, Samsung wouldn't command the other three top spots Apple didn't dominate out of pure fashion.
Yeah. That IS the whole fucking point. The average consumer is now a computer illiterate narcissist who needs a brand name attached to their smartphone in order to feel like they're on the right side of YOLO and FOMO. Samsung understands that. The average Android nerd, doesn't.
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The average consumer is now a computer illiterate narcissist who needs a brand name attached to their smartphone in order to feel like they're on the right side of YOLO and FOMO.
Exactly not. The average consumer does not buy the 20% best selling phones. He buys one of the 80% other ones. It's the 20% narcissists, which are not average. And in fact, sometimes it's not narcissism. My company routinely uses iPhones, because they are more easily remotely managed and have defined End of Sale and End of Service windows. I have an iPhone, because my company bought them and gave me one.
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Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three.
That's the whole point. With Android, it does not matter for the average consumer what brand it is. It does not even matter that it is Android. It's just a generic smartphone, it can install the apps they want, and people will buy whatever fits their budget and their needs, ignorant about brand and operating system. For a single vendor, it is complicated to have one model sell in large numbers, because they are generic. Or do you know what farm your potatoes come from? It's potatoes. That's all that matters.
Yep, and this is one of those nice selective statistics chosen because they can't compete with any meaningful statistics.
There are maybe a dozen different Iphones on sale... compared to thousands of Android models in all shapes, sizes, colours and specs which as you eloquently pointed out can all run everything people need them to.
It's like when someone starts focusing on how much torque their car makes... it's because it literally has no other defining features, it's not fast, it's not powerful, it's
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For a single vendor, it is complicated to have one model sell in large numbers, because they are generic.
That is the theory, the reality is that they are all different, especially Samsung. Google services are extraordinarily hampered on Samsung phones. You can't use Google Photos no matter what you do as Samsung has its own app tied to photos and refuses to allow Google Photos to be used as an interface to the pictures you took with your own camera. Google Photos can still upload all of your data, but it can't be used as an interface to see your photos.
Google Spam filtering also does not work with Samsung phon
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Re: Apples and Oranges (Score:2)
> Are there?
Who else makes iOS devices? You already acknowledged there many sources of Android devices.
Also, while 7 out of 10 sounds good, this represents less than 20% of the total market. And Apple only makes "premium" class phones so this would be their only market. A more accurate title to this would be "Apple sells less than 1 out of every 5 smartphones", and since you've already pointed out that for the most part there seems to be
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>> only one source for iOS devices. Many sources for Android. > Are there? Who else makes iOS devices? You already acknowledged there many sources of Android devices.
I was directing that query to the average consumer looking for an Android option other than Samsung. Also known as the vendor who dominated ALL of the top selling hardware spots not consumed by Apple.
I'll ask again. Are there? Prove it. Let's see if you're bragging about market share beyond fractions of a single percent.
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"Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three."
Ask the average consume to name five iPhone vendor options.
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"Ask the average consumer to name five Android vendor options. I'll bet they'd struggle to name more than three."
Ask the average consume to name five iPhone vendor options.
Kills me I have to actually clarify this, but I was targeting that question towards the average consumer looking for hardware options other than Samsung. It's rather fucking obvious who distributes iProducts.
Now prove any other Android vendor has a market share beyond a meaningless debate about fractions of a percent.
I'll ask again. Are there?
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Samsung and ... Google.
Nobody else exists, or matters.
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I have port 23 blocked at the router. Do YOU? https://www.safebreach.com/blo... [safebreach.com]
(Billy the Windows Kid) "Hey, I randomly removed the telnet command from the default install, making that rather useful networking tool annoyingly gone. Do I get credit too?"
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Crunchy out the outside, chewy on the inside (Score:2)
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I suspect many Amazon bought IOT devices have numerous unnecessary services running. Non-techies don't know how to fix it even if it's possible.
Re: Massive GNU/Linux security hole (Score:2)
We don't "block ports", dimwit, we allow them.
The age of ecosystem (Score:2, Interesting)
There is only one and a half ecosystem in the world ... and the half of one is dying.
Google's half of an ecosystem has two problems. The mistake of allowing manufacturers way too much freedom and being tied down by their advertising preventing them from moving into the high end. Apple can move down in the market, but any Google device will always be tainted by advertising when trying to play at the top. As a person you can mostly avoid that, but for the brand it's poison.
Apple has no true competition.
Re:The age of ecosystem (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple's ecosystem seems to be focused on preventing users from doing what they want with the powerful general purpose hardware they sell. Android users can at least take steps to mitigate how much access advertising systems have on their devices, even to the point that they can use their devices entirely without a Google account. There's no way to get a fully functional third party browser on iOS and iOS users who refuse to sign in to Apple have no way of obtaining any software for their devices.
Tell me again who has half an ecosystem.
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Have you even looked in Settings? There's a "Leave Bixby" button on my S25. I've never accidentally invoked either Bixby or Google Assistant on mine but you can probably remap things like the long press on home or the double click on the side button that often tell your devices to open whichever assistant you have.
I have Bixby turned off completely, my double click side button is set to open Google Wallet and I have circle to search turned off under Settings > Display > Navigation Bar. These settings
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Is it one of these models? [lineageos.org]
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even to the point that they can use their devices entirely without a Google account
I absolutely LOVE this type of lie.
Yes, *I* can use an Android based device without ever having a Google account. I am guessing you can too; otherwise, you would have realized your mistruths would lead everyone else to a cliff.
Please tell me the steps that you take to use an Android phone without a Google account immediately after taking the phone out of the box. What is that? You CAN"T? You have to flash firmware onto the device first? Hm. So it is possible, but only for advanced users, not for the common
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I've had about 11 Android devices over the years; I've installed custom ROMs on 3 of them, and rooted 2 of the others.
But I have never, never put a Google account on any of them. When you start up an Android device for the first time, it asks for a Google account, but it does let you skip that step. You don't have to hack it or anything.
That's just for people who want to use some of the Google servics, like Gmail, Google Photos, or calendar syncing. I've never done any of that.
Downloading and sideloading no
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Apple has so many phones in the top ten because there are much less choices for iOS phones..
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2025 world-wide data: Android has ~76% and iOS ~19% market share. Apple never had anywhere close to 28%.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
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Look, I *like* the fact that Apple only has 19% market share. I am a happy iOS/iPhone user. I don't *want* Apple to make a lot of the changes Android users would want. I like the platform the way it is, and at 19% market share, it's hard to argue "MONOPOLY!" (yes, they have a 100% "monopoly" on iOS, but to me that's about as useful as saying Google has a 100% monopoly on gmail). And to be clear: I am very happy Android is out there and people have choices! That's great! And I can easily see why people prefe
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The monopoly argument has nothing to do with overall marketshare. It's Apple's vertical integration and control over "their" entire market. Gmail isn't an entire market or ecosystem. They can dictate more or less what the suppliers do. They can dictate what app developers are allowed to do. They can dictate what apps are allowed on your phone - including remotely removing apps they don't like. You do not actually own your iPhone, you are merely allowed to use it as long as you use it in a way Apple deems ap
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They = Apple.
Re: The age of ecosystem (Score:1)
Yes. And I can continue to access my email as long as Google lets me have an account. Or view my movies as long as Amazon lets me access my âoepurchasedâ account. I get your point about Apple and the ecosystem, and worrying about all that. If that worries you, donâ(TM)t give Apple a dime!
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Yes. And I can continue to access my email as long as Google lets me have an account.
Yes, but still different.
Or view my movies as long as Amazon lets me access my âoepurchasedâ account.
A completely different problem.
I get your point about Apple and the ecosystem, and worrying about all that. If that worries you, donâ(TM)t give Apple a dime!
Which is why I don't. But, they shouldn't be legally allowed to exert the control that they do on the whole ecosystem. They shouldn't be legally allowed to triple dip a single revenue source, that isn't really theirs to begin with, while providing nothing in return. Apple's entire business model isn't simply a closed ecosystem - it's straight up parasitic by design.
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Also, on a separate note, there are plenty of things that Apple customers *do* ask for and Apple has ignored them for years. Better notifications, ability to switch out default apps, better file management, and others. They have zero reasons to ignore these requests.
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This post is hilarious. You think an iPhone is the higher end model phone? LOL
Way to bury the lead. (Score:5, Interesting)
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A better headline, "The top ten smartphones accounts for only 19% of the global smartphone market. The Android platform continues dominate worldwide, accounting for over 80% of the total market." -iPhone owner, whose mind lives outside the reality distortion field.
It's kind of like Linux. Popularity among other people is at the bottom of my "needs" list, be it in my phone, my computer, or my operating system. I like Linux because it is similar to MacOS, and Apple computers and phones and tablets because the ecosystem integrates a lot better than Android.
Other people find it somehow a real flex about the phone or computer they own. Their sense of worth is based more on not owning an Apple product than much else. The idea that the most popular is somehow best means t
Re:Way to bury the lead. (Score:4, Insightful)
Other people find it somehow a real flex about the phone or computer they own. Their sense of worth is based more on not owning an Apple product than much else. The idea that the most popular is somehow best means that the 2018 Toyota Corolla is inarguably the best car on earth.
You are getting it the other way around. More people buy an Apple device because it is a status symbol and/or it increases their sense of worth, compared to people (hardly any) who avoid Apple for that reason.
People avoid Apple for various other reasons, mostly price, performance/flexibility, being used to Windows/Linux, and to avoid vendor lock-in.
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It's easy to dominate the list this way (Score:4, Interesting)
Since somehow Apple was selling 3 generations of phone at the same time in 2025 it's easy to dominate the charts this way. I don't see this as a good thing. That Apple were selling more iPhone 15s than they were selling iPhone 16es in the same year as the iPhone 17 was released shows that they are massively underserving a budget market.
I can't think at any point in history where 3 generations of iPhone were available for sale in the same year.
Best Selling != Premium (Score:2)
Apple devices do command a premium price, but it's a misnomer to say Best Selling devices are in the premium category of devices.
They definitely have more polish than some devices, and not all iPhones are in the premium category of devices, regardless of their polish.
Majority vs. plurality (Score:2)
Apple dominates the top-10 list, and yet the top-10 list only accounts for 19% of all sales. What that shows is that there are a lot of different companies selling phones.
To show that Apple "controls the premium end of the mobile market," better statistics would be gross margin or percentage of global profit.
So the non-iPhones are more diverse? (Score:2)
Well, that is a reason to not get an iPhone. Monocultures are a huge risk in IT.
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The bigger reason not to get one is Apple's policy of abandoning perfectly good working devices and forcing users to "upgrade", regardless of whether or not one wants/needs to
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They do that? Interesting. Well, I never wanted anything from Apple. One exception: I have one of their old-ish USB keyboards and they are nice. I use that whenever clicky is not an option. But I think they are not made anymore.
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I believe it may have started under Cook: I don't recall that being a thing when Steve was around
meaningless statistic (Score:2)
It's a meaningless statistic. Suppose there are 7 models of iphone, and 3 models of Myphone. Myphone models in total outsell total of 7 iphone models. Now iphone has 7 of the top 10 best selling models. So what?
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It's a meaningless statistic. Suppose there are 7 models of iphone, and 3 models of Myphone. Myphone models in total outsell total of 7 iphone models. Now iphone has 7 of the top 10 best selling models. So what?