In an astonishing turn of events, Apple has reclaimed its position as the leading smartphone manufacturer globally, marking a significant milestone after over 14 years. Preliminary figures from the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveal that in the final quarter of 2025, a total of 336.3 million smartphones were shipped, reflecting a modest increase of 2.3% compared to the same quarter in 2024.
Apple dominated this period with an impressive shipment of 81.3 million devices, securing a substantial 24.2% share of the global market. The Cupertino-based tech giant's success can largely be attributed to the popularity of its iPhone 17 series, which not only propelled the company to its highest quarterly revenue ever but also marked the most significant growth for Q4 since 2021.
In contrast, Samsung, despite slipping to second place, concluded the year on a strong note with 61.2 million shipments and an 18.2% market share. Remarkably, the South Korean brand achieved an annual growth rate exceeding 18%, the highest among the top five smartphone makers.
Xiaomi secured the third position with 37.8 million units sold, representing an 11.2% market share. Meanwhile, both vivo and Oppo found themselves in a tie for fourth place, with shipments of 27 million and 26.9 million, respectively.
Here's a snapshot of the top five companies in terms of smartphone shipments for Q4 2025:
- Apple: 81.3 million shipments, 24.2% market share, a growth of 4.9% compared to the previous year.
- Samsung: 61.2 million shipments, 18.2% market share, with an impressive growth of 18.3% year-on-year.
- Xiaomi: 37.8 million shipments, 11.2% market share, but saw a decline of 11.4% from the prior year.
- vivo: 27 million shipments, holding steady with an 8.0% market share.
- Oppo: 26.9 million shipments, also with an 8.0% market share.
Despite facing challenges such as a persistent memory chip shortage and economic uncertainties, including tariffs and supply chain issues, the global smartphone market still managed to grow by 1.9%. Notably, the premium segment experienced a surge in demand, driven by consumer anticipation of rising prices.
Looking at the yearly figures, a staggering total of 1.26 billion smartphones were shipped throughout 2025, with Apple again emerging as the clear frontrunner. The company recorded a remarkable 247.8 million shipments for the year, achieving a 19.7% share of the global market. This means that, incredibly, one out of every five smartphones shipped last year was an iPhone.
In comparison, Samsung trailed closely with 241.2 million shipments and a 19.1% market share, registering a steady yearly growth of 7.9%. Xiaomi followed with 165.3 million shipments, while both vivo and Oppo contributed slightly more than 8 million each.
Here’s how the top five smartphone manufacturers fared over the entire year of 2025:
- Apple: 247.8 million shipments, 19.7% market share, growing by 6.3% from 2024.
- Samsung: 241.2 million shipments, 19.1% market share, with a 7.9% growth.
- Xiaomi: 165.3 million shipments, 13.1% market share, but down by 1.9% from the previous year.
- vivo: 103.9 million shipments, maintaining an 8.2% market share with a 2.7% growth.
- Oppo: 102 million shipments, holding 8.1% of the market, though down by 2.7% from the year before.
As we anticipate what's ahead in 2026, experts predict a challenging landscape for the smartphone industry. The ongoing memory chip shortage is expected to disrupt supply chains significantly, leading to a potential decrease in market size as smartphone prices are likely to rise. Analysts from IDC highlight that the scale and size of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will play a crucial role in determining which companies thrive during these turbulent times, with larger entities better positioned to secure favorable pricing on components.
