Apple’s iPhone 16 was the world’s best-selling smartphone model in the first quarter of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. That is a global model-sales finding—not a verdict on the best phone to buy, and not a ranking of smartphone manufacturers by shipments.
What the Q1 2025 ranking says
Counterpoint Research’s May 28, 2025 report, “iPhone 16 Leads Global Smartphone Sales in Q1 2025,” names the iPhone 16 as the top-selling individual smartphone model worldwide during January 1–March 31, 2025. Counterpoint attributes the ranking to its Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. The report’s publicly available summary also confirms the Galaxy S25 Ultra at No. 7 for the quarter and says the iPhone 16e ranked No. 6 in March.
Those are the positions the public summary establishes. It does not expose the complete chart with all ten Q1 models, so the remaining places cannot be reported reliably from that summary. The full ranking should not be reconstructed from secondary lists or from memory.
| Period | Position | Model | What is established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 1 | Apple iPhone 16 | Counterpoint identifies it as the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the quarter. |
| March 2025 | 6 | Apple iPhone 16e | Counterpoint says it entered the monthly global top 10 in its first full month of sales. This is a March position, not a confirmed full-quarter rank. |
| Q1 2025 | 7 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Counterpoint’s public summary confirms this quarter ranking; it does not establish the remaining models’ exact positions. |
Source: Counterpoint Research’s Q1 2025 model-sales report, published May 28, 2025.
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What “best-selling” means here
This is a global ranking of smartphone models over the first quarter of 2025—not a U.S.-only chart, a full-year 2025 list, or a ranking of all mobile phones, including feature phones. It is also different from a manufacturer ranking: one company can sell many models without any single model topping the chart.
Counterpoint names its Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, but the public summary does not specify whether the model figures represent sell-through to end users, shipments into distribution, or modeled sales. Those measures are not interchangeable. A shipment figure can reflect devices entering a channel before they are bought by consumers; a model-level ranking and a vendor-shipment ranking can therefore answer different questions.
“Best-selling” describes measured market demand under the tracker’s methodology. It does not mean the phone earned the best review scores or offers the best camera, battery life, value, or software experience. Model names also matter: the report’s “iPhone 16” result should not be broadened to the entire iPhone 16 family unless Counterpoint explicitly groups those models.
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Why the iPhone 16 could lead as an individual model
The iPhone 16 was part of Apple’s current generation during Q1 and had been available since late 2024, giving it the whole quarter to accumulate demand. Apple also sells a more concentrated smartphone lineup than manufacturers that spread volume across many models. As an interpretation, that concentration can make it easier for one Apple model to rank highly; it does not prove that Apple shipped more phones overall than every rival.
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The iPhone 16e’s March result is not a quarter ranking
Counterpoint says the iPhone 16e entered the global top 10 in March, its first full month of sales, and placed sixth for that month. Because it launched late in Q1, it had less time to sell than models available throughout the quarter. The March position should not be described as sixth for all of Q1.
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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For a buyer, its appearance is evidence of early demand, not by itself a reason to choose it. A purchase decision should compare its current price and features with alternatives; this sales report does not evaluate camera, display, or connectivity trade-offs.
Samsung’s model result and the vendor-ranking puzzle
The Galaxy S25 Ultra ranked seventh among individual models in Counterpoint’s Q1 report, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra had held fifth place in Q1 2024, according to the same report summary. The S25 Ultra was new during the quarter; Samsung’s wider portfolio also spans premium Galaxy S models and lower-priced Galaxy A models. That mix can contribute to Samsung’s total shipments even when no single model leads the model chart.
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Counterpoint’s public Q1 market summaries also differ on overall growth: one reported about 3% year over year, while a separate infographic reported about 2%. These are distinct public summaries, not a single precise growth figure.
- Counterpoint’s preliminary Q1 vendor-shipment report says Samsung narrowly led Apple.
- Counterpoint’s Q1 market update reports roughly 3% market growth and Apple at 19% share.
- Counterpoint’s Q1 market-monitor infographic reports roughly 2% growth in a separate public summary.
How to use the ranking when shopping
A global sales result can help identify a widely purchased model, but it cannot tell you which phone fits your budget, carrier, or priorities. Regional availability, network bands, eSIM support, warranty terms, and local pricing can change the practical choice. The iPhone 16e’s March result and the S25 Ultra’s quarter position are also not head-to-head tests.
If you are considering the two confirmed models, treat sales data as context and check current specifications, compatibility, and total cost. As of August 17, 2026, Apple’s U.S. store listed the iPhone 16 128GB at $829 when purchased with “Connect to any carrier later.” Samsung’s U.S. page listed the Galaxy S25 Ultra from $1,299.99 before trade-in and advertised trade-in credit of up to $500 or more, subject to offer terms. Those are U.S.-specific, time-sensitive signals—not Q1 2025 prices or universal prices.
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- Apple’s U.S. iPhone 16 buying page lists current purchase and carrier options; prices and promotions can change.
- Samsung’s U.S. Galaxy S25 Ultra page lists specifications and current purchase offers; trade-in value depends on eligibility and offer terms.
Sources and scope
The model positions above come from Counterpoint Research’s Q1 2025 model-sales report, dated May 28, 2025. The vendor and market context comes from Counterpoint’s preliminary shipment report, market update, and market-monitor infographic. The public model-report summary confirms only the positions identified above; it does not provide enough information to publish the complete ten-model order or specify the tracker’s sales-versus-shipment basis.
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