topic Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025 in Samsung Lounge

Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

smiley — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:00:42 GMT

This puts things into perspective a little and highlights the global following that a certain competitor has over its competition.

Whilst everyone has a preference in the devices they choose to use, it is actually good to have marketplace competition, as it helps to drive innovation and push technology leaps forwards, for all companies concerned.

Remember also that Samsung do make the majority of displays for these competitor phones, so do very well out of these revenues of sales.

These figures show just how small the other android brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, Huawei etc have on the global market share.

I am actually quite surprised that Google dont have one of their phones in this list !

Smiley

Credit for data from Sammobile:

https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-s25-ultra-only-high-end-android-phone-worlds-top-ten-selling-phones/

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

Brooklin — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:23:51 GMT

I'm surprised that the Oneplus 15 isn't there ot seems EVERYONE seems to have one for how good there are.

Re: Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

smiley — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:26:45 GMT

Some of the Chinese phones sell quite big numbers, especially out east. But it may that many dont make it over to the US that harms their global figures.

I don't believe the OnePlus15 have yet made it to the US market...

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

JAMES4578 — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:34:56 GMT

Whilst a number here will have their preference for Samsung/Android in general obviously the latest Apple Devices are very popular worldwide. certainly competition is a positive which generally increases innovation.

in terms of cumulative sales Apple just edges ahead but Samsung has a number of mid range Devices. https://www.dw.com/en/apple-overtakes-samsung-in-phones-sales-worldwide/a-75448316

Anyway the S25 Ultra generally rates well amongst reviwers/expert opinion. https://www.t3.com/features/best-smartphone

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

keith30 — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:59:21 GMT

It's been reported that Apple have had the best last six months of the year for sales after it launched the IPhone 17 and over took most of it's competitors in that score. So yes they are still one to beat.

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

MoreiraNote — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:40:19 GMT

There are several things that can be concluded from that chart, and a lot the cannot. The full report is being a paywall on Counterpoint's website, which focus the analysis only on the cusp of their research, not on the whole substance.

First conclusion: almost all Apple models can be seen on the top 10. So, all phone models that are outside that limit are mostly Android devices. In total, it is estimated that 20% of all shipments in 2025 are Apple's (cf. https://counterpointresearch.com/en/insights/iphone-16-worlds-best-selling-smartphone-in-2025-apple-takes-7-spots-in-top-10-models ), which makes Android to have just 80% of shipments - and making Yahoo! Finance ask "7 Out of 10 Smartphone Buyers Chose Apple in 2025- Is Android Headed For Extinction?" (cf. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-10-smartphone-buyers-chose-162953502.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGFh2YvhZVslADTWegFY6bGMi3r109AJCg6AZxwVnO2OFVPDYnZArQU_mY95rCAXl_XmcqYX9eVwUamnw9CUkf0aVqlPwhPSeMfhppWSyzYKR46biKpq265UjbpRiRLXEkoeefvLDlnd0L_hCW-WvwfG2IBLVbWTBS9EP5qT-YDq ).

Second conclusion: Android OEMs make so many different models, that almost no smartphone competes with Apple's brand recognition. Samsung does the same, trying to compete at any and all price points. When diluting a brand into so many devices will make it that the marketing budget to bring attention to those smartphones is very diluted, and cannot compete with Apple's strategy.

Third conclusion: for all the bells and whistles Samsung puts in the top offering, the Ultra sold less than either the two most budget models, A16 and A06. I do have the S25U and I love the phone for what it is, but there majority of people is shopping on the low end. And, if Samsung wants to compete with Apple, it is my understanding that Samsung needs to up their game, instead of providing small increments on a formula that is several years old (are we really giving a pass for a telephoto lens x3 that has only 10MP and the resolution is computed to 12MP for the final Jpeg, inventing 2MP of non-existing resolution?). Apple is bringing the very least number of upgrades they can sell to their costumers, and Samsung is using that same strategy. With the results shown on the chart.

Re: Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

Piper123 — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:27:58 GMT

Have to say this is probably the best comment I've read from you to date.

Samsung have become samey, churning out broadly the same S Series Ultra year on year for 5 years with minimal upgrades. The range has become boring.

The range has failed to innovate. Samsung have become lazy.

I bought the S21 Ultra, returned it due to poor antennae.

S23 Ultra - great device, still have it.

S24 Ultra - very poor cameras. Got rid a year later.

S25 Ultra - Great device, still have it.

But reality is they broadly follow the same form factor.

My next device is unlikely to be S26 Ultra from the leaks.

I want something different and I feel Samsung may not offer that for a while.

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

Farah777 — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:40:59 GMT

Wow I didn't realise the Apples were so popular.

Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

Farah777 — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:42:30 GMT

I somehow automatically assumed that the S25Ultra was the most popular just because I have it.Hey what do I know about phones.

Re: Re: Re: Global smartphone sales chart for last year in 2025

Brooklin — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:53:00 GMT

Chinese brands struggle to reach western markets due to the UK and US being the largest markets with tariffs on China. I'm surprised we even know about half the Chinese brands out there with how limited their are.