Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Apple Ends 2025 as No. 1 Smartphone Maker With 20% Share, Counterpoint Says

Counterpoint now warns 2026 shipments could soften because of memory shortages tied to AI data center priorities.

Overview

  • Apple captured 20% of global shipments in 2025 with 10% year-over-year growth, edging Samsung at roughly 19% and Xiaomi at 13%.
  • The iPhone 17 launch and ongoing iPhone 16 strength drove gains, with strong performance in Japan, India, and Southeast Asia.
  • Apple reached a record quarterly high in Q4 2025, accounting for about 25% of global smartphone shipments.
  • Global smartphone shipments grew around 2% in 2025, with early-year front-loading to navigate tariff concerns fading by the second half.
  • Counterpoint revised its 2026 forecast down about 3% on DRAM/NAND tightness and rising component costs, with Apple and Samsung viewed as relatively resilient.