Apple is poised to topple Samsung as world's top phone ma...

Apple is poised to topple Samsung as world's top phone manufacturer Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra held up next to an iPhone 17 Pro Max

By Matthew Mountjoy Published 52 minutes ago Sign in to your Android Police account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Apple and Samsung have long been battling for the top spot within the smartphone market, but it appears that there is a new king of the castle. Bloomberg reports that Apple is the world's largest smartphone maker for the first time in over a decade. According to Counterpoint Research, this is in large part due to the debut of the latest iPhone series and consumers upgrading their devices.

iPhone takes the top spot

Apple released the iPhone 17 in September, and it has reportedly sold well in both the United States and China, two key markets for Apple. The uptick in sales had two main causes: enticing new features and lots of people ready to upgrade from the phones they bought when the pandemic hit. As a result, Apple has seen double-digit year-over-year sales growth in both markets, according to Counterpoint. The researchers added that the California-based tech giant is also benefiting from improved relations between the US and China, alongside a weakened dollar that has boosted sales in emerging markets.

According to Bloomberg, this growth will send Apple past its long-time smartphone rival, Samsung. Counterpoint figures show shipments of the new iPhone are set to increase by 10% in 2025, compared with Samsung's 4.6% increase. Even from an overall standpoint, the smartphone market is set to expand by 3.3%, with Apple claiming a 19.4% share. This is the first time since 2011, when the iPhone 4s debuted, that the company will have the number one spot.

Apple's lead could continue

According to Counterpoint Analyst Yang Wang, Apple will likely extend its lead into 2026, boosted by the debut of a foldable phone and a lower-priced iPhone 17e. The research company expects Apple to remain the top phone seller through 2029.

It's not just sales that prove Apple is at the top; the streets have their own metrics. Thieves in the UK are reportedly returning stolen Samsung devices to their owners because iPhones have a higher resale value. London's Metropolitan Police reported that 117,211 mobile devices were stolen in 2024 alone, 2,000 more than the previous year.

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