Global smartphone shipments grew around 2 percent in 2025 driven by rising demand in both established and emerging markets. According to research firm Counterpoint Apple led the global market with a 20 percent share making it the top smartphone maker last year.
The strong performance was fueled by demand for the iPhone 17 series which proved popular across regions. Samsung followed closely with about 19 percent of shipments while Xiaomi took third place with roughly 13 percent highlighting the competitive nature of the global market.
Analysts say shipments earlier in the year were boosted by manufacturers pushing devices ahead of potential tariff changes though that effect eased in the latter half of 2025. Challenges remain for the industry including chip shortages and rising component costs as many semiconductor producers prioritize AI data centers over smartphone production putting pressure on supply chains.
Despite these challenges Apple’s market leadership reflects not only strong hardware sales but also its growing presence in mid sized and developing markets. With increasing competition from Android rivals and ongoing supply chain pressures manufacturers will need to innovate and adapt in 2026 to maintain or grow their share in the increasingly saturated global smartphone market.
