Apple Tops Global Smartphone Shipments in 2025
According to recent data from Omdia, Apple has narrowly claimed the top spot in global smartphone shipments for 2025. The tech giant shipped a record-breaking 240.6 million units last year, securing a 19% share of the market. This achievement just surpasses Samsung, which shipped 239.1 million devices and holds a similar 19% market share when rounded. Both companies experienced an identical 7% growth compared to their 2024 figures, highlighting a competitive year for the two industry leaders.
Market Dynamics and Other Key Players
Following closely behind the top two, Xiaomi experienced a slight decline in shipments, falling 2% year-on-year to 165.4 million units, which translates to a 13% market share. Vivo and Oppo round out the next positions, with vivo shipping 105.3 million units (8% market share) and growing 4% year-on-year, while Oppo shipped 100.7 million units but saw a 3% decline. Transsion nearly entered the top five, also holding an 8% share. Other notable brands include Honor with 6%, Lenovo at 5%, Huawei at 4%, and Realme at 3%, reflecting a diverse and competitive smartphone market.
Regional Trends and Market Growth
The overall smartphone market grew by 2% in 2025, reaching a total of 1.25 billion units shipped worldwide. Growth was observed across all regions except Greater China, where shipments slightly declined. This dip is attributed to the diminishing impact of the national subsidy programme. Interestingly, despite the regional downturn, Apple saw a significant 26% increase in shipments within Mainland China, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 series.
Looking Ahead
The close race between Apple and Samsung underscores the intense competition at the top of the smartphone market. With both companies showing solid growth and new models driving demand, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics evolve in 2026. The performance of other manufacturers like Xiaomi and vivo also suggests shifting consumer preferences and competitive strategies that could influence the market landscape in the coming years.
Source: Omdia