Counterpoint Research ranked the standard iPhone 16—not the entire iPhone 16 lineup—as the world’s top-selling individual smartphone model from January 1 through March 31, 2025. Its Global Handset Model Sales Tracker also placed the iPhone 16 Pro Max second and the iPhone 16 Pro third.
That is a model-level estimate, not an audited unit total released by Apple, and it does not mean Apple shipped more phones than Samsung overall. The distinction matters when using a sales ranking to judge a phone’s value or a company’s market position.
Which phones ranked highest in Q1 2025?
Counterpoint’s global model ranking put Apple’s base iPhone 16 ahead of the Pro models. The reported positions below are for individual models, not combined product families.
| Rank | Model | What the placement shows |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple iPhone 16 | The standard model led the global ranking. |
| 2 | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Apple’s largest Pro model followed the base iPhone. |
| 3 | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | The other Pro model placed third. |
| 5 | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | Samsung’s highest-ranking model identified in the report was from its lower-priced A series. |
| 6 | Apple iPhone 16e | Counterpoint noted the 16e’s sixth-place position in March; this is a March placement, not a stated Q1-wide rank. |
| 9 | Xiaomi Redmi 14C 4G | The only model outside Apple and Samsung identified in the global top 10. |
Counterpoint’s summary says Apple held five of the top 10 positions, but the cited public summaries do not provide a complete audited unit table. The ranking and the placements above are estimates from Counterpoint’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker; it does not publish a full model-by-model audited sales breakdown.
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What “best-selling” means here
The result refers to estimated global sales of one model during the calendar quarter, not revenue, profit, or the combined sales of the iPhone 16 family. “Global” is an aggregate: it does not mean the iPhone 16 led in every country.
Model estimates are useful for comparing placement, but they are not the same as company-reported unit totals. Apple does not normally disclose quarterly sales for each iPhone model, and Samsung likewise does not provide a complete worldwide model-by-model unit table in its public reporting.
Rank #2
- Titanium frame combines strength and lightness, giving the iPhone 16 Pro a premium feel while reducing weight for prolonged daily use. The polished edges and textured back enhance grip and handling, making it easier to use during long calls, gaming sessions, or when capturing photos and videos on the move.
Why the standard iPhone could outsell the Pro models
The ranking does not establish a single cause. Price and product positioning are plausible factors: the standard iPhone 16 offered a current-generation A18 platform, updated cameras, USB-C and access to Apple’s ecosystem below the Pro models’ price tier. Carrier deals, financing, retail availability and upgrade programs could also affect how many units a model sells.
The iPhone 16 family launched in September 2024, so each model had a full quarter of availability by Q1 2025 and was past its initial launch period. A Pro model can still bring in more revenue per device while selling fewer units; unit ranking alone cannot answer which model generated more revenue.
Rank #3
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
Counterpoint coverage associated strong iPhone 16 model performance with Japan and the Middle East and Africa. Separate coverage of Apple’s overall Q1 performance cited North America, Japan and India, as well as strength in Southeast Asia. Those broader company-level observations should not be read as proof that the iPhone 16 ranked first in every one of those markets.
Apple’s model lead did not mean it led every sales measure
A separate Counterpoint preliminary report put Samsung narrowly ahead of Apple in global sell-in shipments in Q1 2025. Sell-in counts devices shipped into distribution channels; sell-through tracks devices sold through to consumers. Counterpoint’s coverage placed Apple first by sell-through, so the apparent disagreement reflects different measures rather than a contradiction about the model ranking.
Rank #4
- 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 4674mAh Battery
- 128GB, 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
Counterpoint also reported 12% year-over-year growth in Apple’s Q1 smartphone shipments, the strongest growth among the five leading brands in that report. It credited the iPhone 16e launch as one factor helping Apple in some markets. This is brand-level shipment context, not a measure of iPhone 16 model sales. For the distinct shipment comparison, see Counterpoint’s preliminary Q1 shipment report; its global smartphone market-share coverage discusses brand performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the Android placements show
Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G placed fifth, while no Galaxy S25 model was identified among the leading models in the reported top 10. The S25 series launched during Q1, but this model table points to stronger top-10 unit placement for Samsung’s more affordable A-series phone in that quarter.
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Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C 4G, at ninth, was the only non-Apple, non-Samsung model in the top 10. Its reported sales were concentrated in emerging regions including the Middle East and Africa and Latin America. The two Android entries illustrate different kinds of competition: Samsung’s broad range of price tiers and Xiaomi’s budget-focused reach.
A model-by-model chart is not a brand-volume comparison. Apple sells a more concentrated lineup than Android manufacturers such as Samsung and Xiaomi, which offer many models across price bands. A single Apple model can rank highly even when Android brands collectively sell across a much broader assortment.
What the ranking means for a phone buyer
The iPhone 16’s top placement is evidence of strong estimated sales, not proof that it is the best phone for every buyer or the best value at today’s prices. The result is historical, covering Q1 2025; it is not a current 2026 sales ranking.
- Compare the current price and storage configuration, not just the model’s past popularity.
- Choose based on the features that matter to you, such as camera flexibility, screen size, battery life, operating system and ecosystem.
- Check local availability, carrier compatibility, warranty and support—especially for region-specific Android models.
- For the iPhone 16e, compare its actual feature set with the standard iPhone 16 rather than treating them as equivalent.
For the quarter’s market context, Counterpoint also published a Q1 2025 smartphone market monitor infographic. Market growth figures can differ between reports because their measures and publication status differ; they should not be merged into one universal growth rate.
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