Apple had a huge year in smartphone sales, and a new market intelligence report makes that pretty clear.
According to Counterpoint Research’s latest estimates, Apple dominated the list of best-selling smartphones worldwide in 2025, placing seven iPhones in the global top ten.
And while that’s not shocking on its own, one model stands out in a way that says a lot about Apple’s current lineup: the base iPhone 17.
Apple takes over the top 10
Counterpoint’s ranking covers full-year smartphone sales for 2025, and here’s how the top devices stacked up:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Galaxy A16 5G
- Galaxy A06 4G
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 15
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- iPhone 16e
Samsung doesn’t even appear until the #5 spot, and Apple holds most of the list with ease. It’s also worth noting that the iPhone 16 remains at the top, which makes sense since it had the full year to rack up sales.
But the bigger story is what happened with the iPhone 17.
The base iPhone 17 is finally a mainstream favorite
The base iPhone 17 landed at #7 on the list, which is a major jump compared to last year.
In 2024, the standard iPhone 16 barely made it into the rankings at #10. This year, the regular iPhone is clearly selling stronger, and it’s not hard to see why.
Counterpoint called the iPhone 17 the standout performer of the lineup, pointing to strong demand across major markets:
“The iPhone 17 series achieved 16% higher sales than the predecessor series during its first full quarter… The base iPhone 17 model has been the standout performer this year.”
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This isn’t a “surprise star” at all
Some might frame the base iPhone 17’s success as unexpected, but honestly, it makes perfect sense.
Apple didn’t just give the standard model minor upgrades this year. It gave it the kind of hardware that used to be reserved for Pro buyers.
The base iPhone 17 now includes:
- The same 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion display as the iPhone 17 Pro
- The same main camera as the Pro
- The same Ultra Wide camera as the Pro
That’s a big deal.
For years, the Pro models were the obvious choice if you cared about screen quality or camera performance. But when the regular iPhone gets the same core experience, the decision becomes a lot easier.
Most people don’t actually need the extra Pro features, they just want the best everyday iPhone. And this year, Apple made the base model feel closer than ever to the Pro.
Apple’s smartest move might be making the default iPhone the best one
The iPhone 17’s strong showing reinforces something a lot of people have been saying since launch: the standard iPhone is finally the one to buy again. With better specs, fewer compromises, and a price that still undercuts the Pro models, the iPhone 17 is hitting the sweet spot.
And judging by these rankings, buyers around the world agree.
