Apple Overtakes Samsung as World's Top Smartphone Brand in Q1 2025: Counterpoint Research:

In the first quarter of 2025, Apple surpassed Samsung to become the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer for the very first time, as pointed out in Counterpoint Research’s latest report. They stated that during Q1 of 2025, the global smartphone market experienced a 3% growth in comparison to the previous year which increased significantly due to emerging economies like China, Latin America, and the Middle East.

On the other hand, North America and Europe suffered from sluggish economic growth due to trade issues, brought on by the stiff and stringent economic headwinds.

Apple’s Share Grows Thanks to iPhone 16e

Apple’s growth in Q1 2025 can be attributed for the most part to the newly launched iPhone 16e as its strong performance boosted their sales. This provided them the number one position in the market as the new model did well in regions where Apple globally had low market shares, therefore increasing their share considerably.

Samsung Surpasses Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo With Strong Sales in March

Samsung has been placed second with a market share of 18% and has experienced a delayed start to the quarter with the postponed release of the S25 series. However, sales did surge in March because of the strong sales of the S25 Ultra models.

Xiaomi, Vivo and OPPO Work Towards the Top

Some of the other smartphone brands also had consistent and steady growth. Xiaomi is still expanding and strengthening their foothold in other and newly set emerging markets. With strong demand in certain regions, Vivo has risen to fourth place.

OPPO came in fifth after posting sturdy sales in India and Latin America.

Emerging Players: Huawei, HONOR, and Motorola

Huawei, HONOR and Motorola are growing as well. Huawei even marked a record high in domestic Chinese smartphone shipments in Q1, suggesting that a recovery might be in the works, even with ongoing international trade restrictions.

Forecast: Economic Worries Vs. Technological Advancement

It looks like the smartphone market is calm for now, but ongoing economic worries and geopolitical conflicts could affect sales later in the year. On the other hand, foldable phones, AI features, and new hardware innovations will likely sustain consumer interest.