A fresh report from Counterpoint Research highlights the most popular smartphones worldwide for the first quarter of 2025, with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung (USOTC:SSNHZ) once again dominating the rankings. Apple’s latest flagship, the iPhone 16, claimed the top spot for the first time in a Q1 period since 2023.

This comeback is credited to the iPhone 16’s strong performance in regions like Japan and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Improved economic conditions and changes to local subsidy frameworks played a key role in making Apple’s pricing and product ecosystem more competitive in those markets, according to analyst Ibrahim Abbas.

Also making waves was the iPhone 16e, which entered the global top 10 in March 2025, landing in sixth place. Its cutting-edge features helped drive demand, although its higher price tag compared to the iPhone SE 2022 limited its success in some price-sensitive regions.

Despite Europe experiencing its first year-over-year decline in smartphone shipments in a year, Apple managed to boost its regional market share from Q1 2024 levels – largely thanks to the 16e. However, pricing continued to pose challenges for broader adoption, noted analyst Jan Stryjak.

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