Strong iPhone 17 sales may push Apple ahead of Samsung this year | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Strong iPhone 17 sales may push Apple ahead of Samsung this yearComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleStrong iPhone 17 sales may push Apple ahead of Samsung this yearCounterpoint Research predicts Apple will ship around 8 million more phones than Samsung in 2025.Counterpoint Research predicts Apple will ship around 8 million more phones than Samsung in 2025.by Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldNov 26, 2025, 10:48 PM UTCLinkShareImage: AppleStevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.Counterpoint Research is predicting Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup will help it nudge Samsung out as the number one phone manufacturer in the world this year, as reported by CNBC and Bloomberg. The report estimates Apple will ship 243 million phones this year, while Samsung will ship 235 million, landing Apple a 19.4 percent share of the global smartphone market, less than 1 percent ahead of Samsung.Counterpoint says the newly introduced iPhone 17 series garnered 12 percent more sales in its first four weeks than the iPhone 16 lineup, with sales boosted by “lower-than-expected” impact from tariffs.RelatedSamsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus review: incredibly iterativeThe best phone to buy right nowThe iPhone 17 is the one to get this yearDifferent analysts have reported different stats about who is the leader in phone shipments over the last few years, but by Counterpoint’s evaluation, this will be the first time Apple has passed Samsung in phone shipments in 14 years. Based on Counterpoint’s report, it seems like reports of a muted reception for the iPhone Air and ongoing questions about Apple’s progress with AI technology didn’t hold back the iPhone 17 line-up as a whole. Next year, Apple is expected to release a cheaper “17e” model in the spring, and eventually, its first foldable iPhone.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleiPhoneCloseiPhonePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All iPhoneMobileCloseMobilePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MobileNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSamsungCloseSamsungPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SamsungTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeLarge language mistakeI’m officially done with YouTube KidsYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersCampbell’s fired the VP recorded saying its meat ‘came from a 3D printer’The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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According to a Counterpoint Research report, Apple is projected to surpass Samsung in global smartphone shipments for 2025. Estimates indicate Apple will ship 243 million units compared to Samsung's 235 million, giving Apple a 19.4% market share, a margin of less than 1%. This represents the first time in 14 years that Apple has led in overall phone shipments. The success of the newly released iPhone 17 series, which saw a 12% increase in sales within its first four weeks of release, partially offset by lower-than-expected impact from tariffs, is the primary driver behind this shift. The iPhone 17 line-up has demonstrated resilience against previously noted concerns regarding the iPhone Air and Apple’s progress with artificial intelligence. Looking ahead, Apple is preparing to introduce a more affordable “17e” model in the spring, along with its initial foray into foldable smartphone technology. This outcome challenges prior analyses that suggested a subdued reception for the phone line and questions regarding Apple’s advancement in AI technology.