Iphone 16 tops smartphone sales in key regions, samsung struggles

Apple continues its dominance in the global smartphone market, with the iPhone 16 series leading sales in several major regions in 2025. However, the competitive landscape reveals interesting regional variations and a challenging year for Samsung.

Iphone 16 reigns supreme in north america, europe, and asia-pacific

Counterpoint Research's latest report shows the iPhone 16 as the top-selling smartphone in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific (excluding China). This success isn't solely attributable to the standard iPhone 16; the higher-end iPhone 16 Pro also performed exceptionally well in China.

Interestingly, the report highlights a curious market dynamic in North America, where both the more affordable iPhone 16 and the premium iPhone 17 Pro Max saw strong sales. This suggests a broader appeal across different price points.

Samsung finds success in latin america and middle east & africa

While Apple dominates in the surveyed regions, Samsung holds the top spot in Latin America (LATAM) and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). However, this success is largely driven by its lower-end models, such as the Galaxy A06 4G and Galaxy A16 4G, which likely offer lower profit margins.

A significant miss for Samsung is the lack of 5G-enabled low-end or mid-range devices ranking in the top five across any of the regions examined. Even the high-end Galaxy S25 Ultra, which charted among the world's top ten best-selling smartphones, failed to break into the top five lists.

Looking ahead: a challenging 2026 for samsung

Analysts predict a similar trend in 2026, with the iPhone 17 series likely maintaining its strong performance in key regions. While Samsung is expected to see better results with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it may struggle to compete with Apple's premium offerings. The first-generation iPhone Fold is unlikely to gain traction in these markets.

The data underscores a pivotal moment in the smartphone industry: Apple's continued ability to command market share despite a relatively incremental release cycle, and Samsung's uphill battle to connect with consumers seeking flagship devices.