Apple set to overtake Samsung as world’s top smartphone maker — what’s driving iPhone maker’s surge?
Apple Inc is poised to overtake Samsung Electronics Co. and become the world’s largest smartphone maker this year for the first time in more than a decade. This increase is due to the strong launch of the new iPhone 17 series and a wave of consumers upgrading their devices. Counterpoint Research.
The latest iPhone 17 models, released in September, have been a huge success in both the United States and China, Apple’s other critical market, leading to double-digit year-over-year sales growth in both regions. Bloomberg reported.
Blockbuster debut of iPhone 17 series
The iPhone 17 series, consisting of four models, encouraged more people to upgrade their smartphones. The company’s latest product, the iPhone Air, marketed as the world’s thinnest iPhone, saw people waiting in long queues to get their hands on the device.
The US-based company also benefited from the cooling of US-China trade tensions and the weakening of the dollar, which led to more buying in emerging markets, researchers added.
Apple and Samsung
The growth boost, which is expected to push Apple ahead of long-time rival Samsung Electronics this year, comes as iPhone shipments are projected to rise 10% in 2025, compared to Samsung’s 4.6%.
The overall global smartphone market is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2025, with Apple projected to have a market share of 19.4%. The company will rise to the number 1 position in the smartphone market for the first time since 2011.
“Beyond the overwhelmingly positive market response to the iPhone 17 series, the key driver behind the improved shipping outlook lies in the replacement cycle reaching its inflection point,” he said. Counterpoint analyst Yang Wang.
The analyst also said the market was supported by rising second-hand iPhone sales as well as new upgrades.
“Consumers who purchased smartphones during the Covid-19 boom are now entering the upgrade phase. Additionally, 358 million second-hand iPhones were sold between the 2nd quarter of 2023 and 2025. These users are also likely to upgrade to a new iPhone in the coming years,” Wang added.
What will Apple release next?
Looking ahead, Wang is optimistic about Apple’s long-term dominance, predicting that the company will remain the No. 1 phone vendor through 2029.
The launch of the foldable iPhone and budget-friendly iPhone 17e in 2026 is poised to help Apple continue this growth. The company is also expected to follow these models with a major iPhone design refresh in 2027. Bloomberg News had previously reported.
Apple said last month that sales were growing faster than the company expected and that the holiday quarter was poised to approach record revenue of $140 billion. Bloomberg reported.
