Apple Clinches Top Spot in Global Smartphone Shipments for 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 19, 2026, 07:31 (PST)
- In a closely contested battle, Apple and Samsung concluded 2025 nearly neck and neck in global smartphone shipments, with Apple marginally surpassing Samsung, as reported by various trackers.
- Demand during the holiday season propelled shipment volumes, despite ongoing challenges related to component shortages and escalating costs impacting overall supply.
- Looking ahead, analysts predict 2026 will present substantial challenges, particularly for low- and mid-tier devices, as memory shortages and pricing pressures begin to emerge.
With preliminary data from IDC indicating Apple (AAPL.O) as the premier smartphone vendor for 2025, the company shipped an impressive 247.8 million units, representing a 19.7% market share.
This edged out Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), which shipped 241.2 million units for a 19.1% share.
Overall, smartphone shipments for the year increased modestly by 1.9%, reaching approximately 1.26 billion units. “Apple has upheld its leadership for the third consecutive year,” stated IDC’s Nabila Popal.
This scenario is particularly significant in light of the intensified supply constraints on critical components, especially dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which plays a crucial role in the operational efficiency of smartphones.
U.S.-based chip manufacturer Micron has announced plans to acquire a Taiwan fabrication site from Powerchip for $1.8 billion, aiming to enhance DRAM wafer production starting in the latter half of 2027. This prolonged timeline underscores the prevailing tightness in the memory market.
Omdia, another market analysis firm, corroborated Apple’s dominance in the final quarter of 2025, noting that it commanded a 25% share even amid rising memory costs.
“Apple achieved its highest-ever shipment volumes during 4Q25,” remarked Omdia analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. Additionally, Omdia’s Runar Bjørhovde emphasized that the tightening DRAM supply poses significant challenges for 2026.
Counterpoint Research also placed Apple at the forefront for 2025, estimating a 20% market share compared to Samsung’s 19%. The firm indicated that manufacturers accelerated shipments earlier in the year to navigate impending tariffs.
Counterpoint’s Tarun Pathak expressed that the market could face downturns in 2026 as shortages of chips and rising component prices prompt suppliers to prioritize AI data center demands over smartphone production.
Further coverage circulated on Monday, including a report from WebProNews that accentuated Apple’s narrow advantage over Samsung following a fiercely competitive year.
It is vital to clarify that “shipments” refer to the volume of phones dispatched to retail channels rather than actual consumer sales.
Thus, these figures may not accurately reflect end-user demand, particularly if manufacturers build inventory in anticipation of product launches or pricing strategies.
The margin between the two leaders is slim, with the rankings subject to adjustments as firms revise their estimates and vendors make inventory modifications post-holiday season.
Should component shortages deepen or if increased material costs translate into higher retail prices, the first segment to feel the impact will likely be lower-priced models, where consumer price sensitivity is pronounced.
Samsung’s late push in 2025 was attributed to its focus on foldable smartphones and more affordable AI-enabled models, while Apple capitalized on demand for the iPhone 17 and a recovery in the Chinese market, as per IDC’s analysis.
Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO are closely trailing behind, thereby completing the upper echelon of the global smartphone market’s top five.
The competitive landscape for 2026 appears shaped less by a mere product cycle and more by the complexities of supply constraints and disciplined pricing strategies.
Vendors are increasingly discussing trade-ins, bundled services, and configuration variations—minor adjustments that may prove vital amid tightening supply chains.
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