iPhone dominates: Five models in the top 10 Apfelpatient

According to an analysis by Counterpoint Research, Apple held five of the top ten spots among the world's best-selling smartphones in the fourth quarter of 2025. The iPhone 17 Pro Max topped the list – the iPhone Air was notably absent.

Apple has once again cemented its dominance in the premium smartphone market during the most important sales quarter of the year. Market research firm Counterpoint Research has published its list of the best-selling smartphones of the fourth quarter of 2025 – and Apple occupies half of the top 10. Particularly noteworthy: While the iPhone 17 series dominates the top spots, the iPhone Air does not appear on the list.

The ranking is based on global sales figures and shows which individual smartphone models sold best between October and December 2025. According to Counterpoint, the top 10 accounted for a total of 23 percent of all global smartphone sales – the iPhone 17 Pro Max alone was responsible for 5 percent.

The Rankings at a glance

The iPhone 17 Pro Max tops the list, followed by the iPhone 17 in second place and the iPhone 17 Pro in third. Apple thus secures all three top spots. In fourth place is the older iPhone 16, the only iPhone model to remain in the top 10 throughout 2025 – only relinquishing its lead to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the final quarter.

The iPhone 16e lands in eighth place, showing that even Apple's more affordable model is generating demand. Samsung occupies four spots with the Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, Galaxy A07, and Galaxy S25. Xiaomi's Redmi A5 comes in ninth.

iPhone Air remains invisible

The absence of the iPhone Air from the top 10 is striking. The ultra-thin model, introduced in September 2025, doesn't appear to have sold in significant numbers – an observation that aligns with reports of production being discontinued just a few months after its launch. Apple, however, is sticking with its successor.

Apple iPhone: What the numbers show

The ranking highlights two trends: First, the iPhone remains virtually unchallenged in the premium price segment. No Android flagship makes it into the top three. Samsung's Galaxy S25 only lands in tenth place – the other Samsung models on the list are budget A-series devices that prioritize volume over profit margin.

Secondly, it's clear that Apple had a particularly successful launch with the iPhone 17. The fact that three models of the new generation are at the top of the sales charts indicates strong demand during the holiday quarter – a good sign for Apple's revenue and margin strategy, which increasingly focuses on more expensive Pro models. (Image: Shutterstock / Anonymous Photographer)