For many years, Samsung has been the number one smartphone maker in the world. It has stayed at the top for about fourteen years, and no other company has been able to take that spot from it. This may soon change. A new market report says Apple is finally set to pass Samsung in global smartphone shipments. If this happens, it will be a big moment in the smartphone industry. It means the balance of power will shift, and Apple may become the new leader in the global market.
This news comes from analysts at Counterpoint Research. They study the smartphone market closely. They look at how many phones companies make, how many they ship and what customers are buying. According to their latest report, Apple is on track to ship around 243 million iPhones this year. Samsung is expected to ship about 235 million phones. While the difference looks small, it is enough to put Apple ahead for the first time since 2011.
Many people are surprised by this change. Samsung has always had a wide range of phones, from cheap models to the high end Galaxy line. Apple focuses on premium phones only. Still, Apple is growing faster right now, and there are clear reasons why.
The iPhone 17 series is a major success
One of the biggest reasons Apple is rising is the success of its new iPhone 17 lineup. The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are performing very well in many countries. Counterpoint says sales of the iPhone 17 series in the United States were 12 percent higher than sales of the iPhone 16 series during the first month of release. In China, the growth was even stronger, reaching 18 percent.
This shows that buyers are excited about the new models. Even though Apple delayed some of its new AI features like the improved Siri with Apple Intelligence, it did not hurt sales. People still picked the iPhone 17 because they trust the brand and like the improvements in camera quality, battery life and design.
The upgrade cycle is helping Apple
Another major reason for Apple’s rise is what analysts call the upgrade cycle. During the COVID 19 pandemic, a lot of people around the world bought new smartphones. Now, several years later, these same people are ready to upgrade their phones. Because so many people bought iPhones during that time, Apple is benefiting from this new wave of replacements.
Counterpoint says around 358 million second hand iPhones were sold between 2023 and mid 2025. These users are also likely to upgrade to a new iPhone soon. This huge number creates a strong base of future buyers for Apple.
Apple is gaining strength in many regions
The report also explains that Apple is doing well in the United States and China. These are two of the most important smartphone markets in the world. When Apple grows in both places at the same time, it creates a big impact.
The cooling of trade tensions between the United States and China also helped Apple. A weaker US dollar made it easier for people in other countries to buy iPhones. Apple has also improved its supply chain, which helps it deliver phones faster.
Samsung on the other hand faces strong competition in the mid range and low end markets. Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo offer cheaper phones with good features. These brands are growing fast in Asia, Africa and other developing regions. This puts pressure on Samsung and makes it harder for the company to keep its top position.
Apple plans to expand even more
Counterpoint Research believes Apple will not only become number one in 2025 but will also stay number one until at least 2029. They say this will happen because Apple has many plans for the future.
First, Apple is expected to release a foldable iPhone. Foldable phones are becoming more popular, and Samsung has been leading that category so far. If Apple enters the foldable market, it could attract many customers who want a premium foldable device.
Apple is also working on lower priced models like the iPhone 17e. This is expected to help the company reach more customers in emerging markets where people want cheaper phones.
There are also reports that Apple will introduce a major design change in 2027. Big changes often bring a wave of upgrades since people like fresh designs.
What this means for the smartphone market
If Apple becomes number one, it will push all other brands to think differently. Samsung may need to focus more on premium features to compete with Apple. Chinese brands may need to improve software, design and long term support to attract more users.
For customers, this competition is good. It means better products, more choices and stronger performance. When companies fight for the top spot, they try harder to give people value.
The Bottom Line
Apple set to top Samsung in global smartphone shipments is a big milestone. It shows how fast the smartphone world can change. Apple’s strong iPhone 17 lineup, the upgrade cycle, stable global markets and a huge base of loyal users have all come together to create this moment. If Apple continues at this pace, it may hold the top spot for many years.
