In 2025, phones promised more AI and megapixels than ever before. Yet the most “common” choice climbed to the top of sales. First the story, then the reveal – backed up by data from Q1 (by model) and Q2 (by manufacturer and revenue). The best-selling smartphone in 2025?! Let’s see!
The best-selling smartphone in 2025 – revealed slowly, like peeling an onion. This year, the industry has split into two camps: on one side, superlatives (“Ultra”, “Pro Max”, “tetraprism”, “agent-like AI”), and on the other, purely human desires: good battery, fast system, pop-up camera on the button, and a price that doesn't require a mortgage. The first quarter of 2025 offered a sobering reality check: the masses weren't chasing the most expensive, but what was good enoughAnd yes, the numbers back it up.
How is “best-selling” even measured?
When we talk about the best-selling smartphone in 2025, we're talking about model sales (sell‑through) according to specific models in Q1 2025, as published by Counterpoint Research. This is not the same as shipments or revenues – we will look at these two metrics in the Q2 section.
Q1 2025: TOP 10 by model (global) – best-selling smartphone in 2025
Below is a table of the top ten in Q1 2025First, the order, without revealing the “why” — that comes in a moment.
| City | Model (Q1 2025) |
|---|---|
| 1 | iPhone 16 |
| 2 | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| 3 | iPhone 16 Pro |
| 4 | iPhone 15 |
| 5 | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G |
| 6 | Samsung Galaxy A06 |
| 7 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| 8 | Redmi 14C 4G |
| 9 | Samsung Galaxy A55 5G |
| 10 | iPhone 16 Plus |
Source: Counterpoint's “Global Handset Model Sales Tracker” summaries.
Footnote: iPhone 16e is in March 2025 (first full month of sales) ranked among the best sellers in the month, but not part of Q1 quarterly tens.
Disclosure in the middle: the #1 phone is “ordinary” iPhone 16
Yes, the basic iPhone 16 won. Not Pro. Not Ultra. Regular — except this year it's not so "regular." According to Counterpoint, in Q1 2025 ranked first in the world; three of the top four spots were occupied by iPhones, while the highest-ranked Android was Galaxy A16 5G.
Why the “basic” model won: three simple reasons
1) “Enough Pro” features without the “Pro” price
iPhone 16 got it A18, physical Camera Control and Action Button — features that were only yesterday reserved for more expensive models. It has come close to the “Pro” experience to the point where, for most people, the difference does not justify the extra charge.
2) Geography and subsidies
Analysts point out above-average sales in Japan and the MEA region, where the acceleration was contributed by updated operator subsidiesWhen the cost account becomes friendlier, rational choice wins.
3) Less glitter, more meaning
At the same time, the Android story carried middle and lower class: Samsung's A-series and Redmi models in the top ten, while S25 Ultra Despite the spectacle, it only landed in 7th place. This confirms the trend: volume is built on "good enough", not on the most expensive.
What iPhone 16e?
Apple introduced in February iPhone 16e – a cheaper entry into the 16-series with A18 and Apple Intelligence. It wasn't part of the Q1 quarterly top ten, but it was in March broke high on the monthly chart, indicating that it will expand its customer base in 2025.
Q2 2025: who leads by pieces and who by money
The quarter after that showed a broader picture: after shipments is in Q2 2025 led Samsung, followed Apple, then Xiaomi, vivo, Transsion. After revenues but for the first time in history, the industry second quarter broke through $100 billion, whereby it is Apple picked up ~43 % of total revenueThe difference between volume and value has never been so clear. (IDC, Counterpoint Research)
Table: Q2 2025 – Top 5 by Shipments (IDC, Global)
| Company | Shipments (million) | Market share | Year-on-year growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 58.0 | 19.7% | +7.9% |
| Apple | 46.4 | 15.7% | +1.5% |
| Xiaomi | 42.5 | 14.4% | +0.6% |
| Viva | 27.1 | 9.2% | +4.8% |
| Transsion | 25.1 | 8.5% | −1.7% |
Source: IDC, Q2 2025 (preliminary data). (IDC)
Revenue: > $100 billion in Q2 (record for Q2), Apple ~43 % revenue share, fastest annual growth among the top 5 (+13%). Source: Counterpoint (Market Monitor).
The season is not over yet – the best-selling smartphone in 2025
Address “best selling phone 2025” will be official only after the end of the year. For now, we know this: in Q1 reigned iPhone 16 (by models), in Q2 he led in pieces Samsung, and by value Apple — and the industry set a new record in Q2 record revenuesIf 2025 were a football league, the table would say that the “ordinary” choice has a realistic chance of winning the championship.
Epilogue: finish by the end of the year
The year 2025 proves that smart decisions are not always the loudest. The “ordinary” model has become best sellerbecause he became enough Pro for most — and because the world really revolves around the battery, the price, and the button that opens the camera when the moment strikes. The next turning point? In the second half of the year, when we'll see if rationality remains the champion or is overtaken by the next wave of "wow" innovations.
