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Smartphone Market Returns to Growth in Q3 as Samsung Leads and Apple Closes In

Analysts credit premium launches, AI features plus aggressive promotions for the turnaround.

Overview

  • Preliminary IDC data shows global smartphone shipments rose 2.6% year over year to 322.7 million units in Q3 2025.
  • Samsung led with 61.4 million shipments (about 19% share) while Apple shipped 58.6 million iPhones (roughly 18.2%), marking Apple’s best July quarter on record.
  • IDC reported strong iPhone 17 preorders and said Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 outperformed prior foldables, helping revive the segment.
  • Omdia’s separate estimate pegged industry growth at 3% with Apple shipments up 4%, underscoring methodological differences across research firms.
  • In China, overall shipments slipped 0.6% as Apple inched up 0.6% to 10.8 million units, and IDC forecast continued momentum into the holiday period driven by AI features, promotions and new devices.