- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 29 May 2025 05:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
iPhone Sales: It seems that the smartphone market is changing—high-end phones are leading the charge ahead of mid-tier and budget smartphones. This increasing trend is reflected in a recent report by Counterpoint Research, where Apple's iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2025.
The iPhone 16, which debuted around Rs 80,000, also picked up great speed in India, particularly after price cuts through online offers reduced its price to about Rs 70,000. The more interesting aspect is that it is not the only Apple product featured on the list—the iPhone 15, which was released in September 2023, also figured in the top global rankings. Even with the release of newer Android flagships this year, the iPhone 15 was able to outpace most of them, demonstrating Apple's dominance not just through its new phones but also its old lineup.
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Image Credits: Counterpoint
Standard iPhones Surpass Pro Models for First Time in Two Years
The report also indicates a unique incident: for the first time in two years, Apple's standard iPhone model sold more than its Pro and Pro Max variants worldwide. The change was particularly evident in Japan, where Apple experienced a sales boom due to strengthening economic conditions as well as modifications in carrier subsidies that lowered the price of the device and made it more affordable. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets also contributed greatly to propelling Apple into the leading position.
iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Are Right Behind
Just behind the iPhone 16 were its pricier siblings — iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro, coming in second and third, respectively, in worldwide sales. Its Pro version alone constituted nearly half of all iPhone sales for the quarter, indicating that consumers are still willing to shell out extra for extra features. But the Chinese market was tougher on Apple, with domestic brands such as Huawei getting an advantage, aided by government subsidies for cheap devices.
iPhone 16e Rises to Sixth Place in a Month
Apple also brought out a fresh model this year — the iPhone 16e, with the firm's most advanced AI capabilities. Though launched during mid-quarter, the iPhone 16e shot up the rankings, reaching sixth place in sales worldwide within a month. Though more expensive than the previous iPhone SE 2022, the new model's enhanced specs and feature set seem to have appealed to customers just right.
Galaxy S25 Ultra and Redmi 14C 4G Also Within Top 10
The Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung's latest flagship, was seventh. While it fell behind last year's S24 Ultra, the decline is most probably because the S25 Ultra was only on the market for part of the quarter. Nonetheless, the phone showed well due to Samsung emphasizing Galaxy AI features and other cutting-edge technology.
Samsung's affordable range also left an impression. The Galaxy A16 5G rose to fifth position, reflecting strong demand in markets such as Latin America and North America. The Galaxy A06 also found its way onto the best-seller list, reaffirming that budget smartphones are extremely popular across emerging markets.
Finally, the only other brand to enter the worldwide top 10 was Xiaomi. Its Redmi 14C 4G performed better than its predecessor, giving the brand a place among the world's best-selling smartphones for this quarter.