Apple Inc. will retake its crown because the world’s largest smartphone maker for the primary time in additional than a decade, lifted by the profitable debut of a brand new iPhone sequence and a rush of customers upgrading gadgets, in keeping with Counterpoint Analysis.
The iPhone 17 fashions launched in September have been a success each domestically within the US and in Apple’s different essential market, China. They’ve enticed extra folks to improve, resulting in double-digit year-over-year gross sales development in each markets, in keeping with the researchers. The US firm is also benefiting from a cooling of US-China commerce tensions and a depreciating greenback that has boosted purchases in rising markets, they added.
The expansion will propel Apple previous longtime rival Samsung Electronics Co. this 12 months, in keeping with Counterpoint’s figures. Shipments of the iPhone are set to develop at 10% in 2025, in contrast with 4.6% for Samsung.
The general smartphone market is anticipated to increase by 3.3% in 2025, with Apple projected to say a share of 19.4%. It is going to be the primary time since 2011 that the corporate takes the No. 1 place.
“Past the extremely optimistic market reception for the iPhone 17 sequence, the important thing driver behind the upgraded cargo outlook lies within the alternative cycle reaching its inflection level,” mentioned Counterpoint analyst Yang Wang. “Customers who bought smartphones through the Covid-19 increase at the moment are coming into their improve part. Moreover, 358 million secondhand iPhones have been offered between 2023 and Q2 2025. These customers are additionally more likely to improve to a brand new iPhone within the coming years.”
Wanting additional into the long run, Wang sees Apple extending its lead. The upcoming 2026 debut of a foldable iPhone and a budget-friendly iPhone 17e will each assist gross sales. And Apple is anticipated to observe these fashions with a significant iPhone design revamp in 2027, as Bloomberg Information has beforehand reported.
With these tailwinds, Counterpoint expects Apple to stay the No. 1 telephone vendor by means of 2029.
Apple mentioned final month that gross sales are rising sooner than anticipated, with the vacation quarter poised to method a report $140 billion in income.
