Apple Set to Reclaim the Smartphone Crown in 2025
So, there’s a big shift expected in the smartphone world, and it looks like Apple is finally stepping back into the number-one spot after more than a decade. According to fresh industry analysis, 2025 is shaping up to be the year when Apple overtakes Samsung in global smartphone shipments for the first time since 2011. And honestly, the momentum behind this change feels pretty significant.
What’s being projected is that overall global smartphone shipments will see a modest rise—about 3.3% year over year in 2025. But the real story sits with Apple. iPhone shipments alone are expected to grow by around 10%, which is a huge jump compared to the rest of the market. A lot of this growth is being driven by the iPhone 17 series, which seems to be hitting an inflection point in terms of consumer demand. People have been waiting for an upgrade moment, and 2025 is when that cycle is expected to peak.
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Interestingly, one factor that analysts are pointing to is the massive resale ecosystem Apple has built—358 million second-hand iPhones were sold between 2023 and mid-2025. Many of those users are now expected to make the leap to a brand-new device, adding another layer of demand that works heavily in Apple’s favor. Because of all this, Apple is projected to take roughly 19.4% of the global smartphone market next year, pushing Samsung just slightly behind at 18.7%.
Now, Samsung isn’t slowing down. In fact, its shipments are also expected to rise—about 4.6% year over year. But even with that growth, it won’t be enough to hold onto the top spot. Samsung is continuing two major strategies: strengthening its A-series lineup in emerging markets and doubling down on premium devices in mature markets. This approach is expected to keep Samsung highly competitive, even if it slips into second place.
Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone brands are projected to keep expanding outward, focusing more on overseas markets and pushing into higher-priced models. This shift is expected to help them boost profitability while maintaining stable rankings through 2029.
But the broader takeaway here is that Apple isn’t just poised to take the lead in 2025—it’s expected to keep that leadership position for several years. With strong upgrade cycles, rising demand, and a global customer base that keeps growing, Apple seems to be entering a multi-year stretch where its smartphone dominance is reinforced rather than challenged.
So, if these projections play out, 2025 might mark a pretty historic shift in the industry—one that hasn’t been seen since early last decade. Apple, once again, could be sitting at the very top of the smartphone world.
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