The iPhone 16 has taken everyone by surprise, emerging as the world’s best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2025. This remarkable feat sees it surpassing its more feature-rich siblings, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Last year, the iPhone 15 was close to grabbing this title, missing out by a narrow margin to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Over this span of time, Apple’s smartphones have nabbed five spots on the best-selling list, while competitors Xiaomi and Samsung filled the rest.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra secured the seventh spot, notably outpacing the iPhone 16 Plus. According to data from Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 16 Pro was the runner-up, followed by the iPhone 16 Pro Max in third place. Although the report didn’t specify reasons behind this shift in consumer preference, it seems buyers see little difference in value between the base and Pro models, given the cost.
The iPhone 16’s appeal lies in its powerful A18 chip, which is nearly as fast as the A18 Pro found in the higher-end models, and it matches them with 8GB of RAM. This makes it just as capable when it comes to gaming and handling AI features. While it does have fewer cameras, a non-titanium chassis, and a 60Hz OLED screen, many consumers evidently feel these features don’t warrant the additional expense of the Pro versions.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 managed to maintain strong sales, landing in fourth place for Q1 2025. Samsung’s Galaxy A16 5G, their entry-level offering, took fifth and was the company’s top performer for the quarter. The Galaxy S25 Ultra was the only premium model from Samsung to break into the top 10, with Xiaomi’s Redmi 14C 4G also making an appearance.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Plus found itself at the bottom of the list, leading to speculation that Apple might replace its successor with the iPhone 17 Air. In China, Apple’s expensive options, like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, faced stiff competition. Government subsidies for devices under 6,000 yuan ($833) and Huawei’s resurgence might have impacted their sales in the world’s largest smartphone market.
