Smartphone Sales Statistics By Market Size And Facts (2026)

Starter

Smartphone Sales Statistics: It’s hard to imagine life without smartphones. They have become an essential part of our daily lives. Smartphones are everywhere, with over 80% of people in the United States using them for browsing the web, conducting business, messaging, and communicating.

Despite being a relatively recent invention, smartphones can do a lot, from recognizing faces and enabling video chats to taking high-quality photos and effortless internet browsing. Let’s take a closer look at smartphone sales statistics

Best in the Article

1. Smartphone sales in the U.K. increased from 2024 to 2025, with 30.6 million phones sold compared to 30.5 million in the previous year. This suggests a growing market or potentially increased consumer demand or upgrade cycles.
2. The U.S. ranks third in smartphone sales, highlighting its importance but trailing behind China and India.
3. In 2025, approximately 1.25 billion smartphones were sold worldwide.
4. Samsung was overtaken by Apple in 2025, finishing the year with a 19% market share, while Apple claimed the top spot with a 20% share, growing shipments by 10% YoY.
5. Xiaomi’s strong sales highlight its potential to challenge the top two brands, especially in markets with a strong presence.
6. The lowest production occurred in January/February 2020, with 2.35 million daily units, likely influenced by the Chinese New Year and the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. The peak daily average occurred in 2014, with 5.08 million units sold daily. Projections indicate that by 2027, the daily average will increase to 5.11 million units.
8. Huawei’s market share in 2024 in India was around 0.41%. Compared to 2023, it has fallen by 0.19%. This brand is ranked 11th in the market.
9. Xiaomi’s global shipments reached 168.5 million units in 2024, up 15.7% YoY, and it held a 13% global market share in 2025.

Evolution of Smartphones

(Source: textedly.com)

1973: The First Cell Phone Is Invented:

• Cellular phones were a key step toward the advent of portable digital technology, preceding the arrival of smartphones.
• Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first cell phone call in April 1973. Although portable phones became widely available another ten years later, this pioneering event set the stage for future mobile communication advancements.

1984: The First Portable Mobile Device:

• Almost four decades ago, Motorola launched the DynaTAC 8000X, the first mobile phone.
• At a hefty USD 4,000, it was never intended for widespread use among the general population. Weighing two pounds, the DynaTAC 8000X earned the nickname “The Brick” due to its bulkiness. Its battery life was a mere 30 minutes.

1992: The First Smartphone:

• IBM announced the first smartphone in 1992, but it became available two years later.
• The Simon Personal Communicator (SPC), commonly called IBM Simon, offered features that are now common in modern smartphones, such as a touch screen that operated with a stylus. However, fully functional touch screens were still some years away.
• Despite its groundbreaking features, the SPC was quite basic by today’s standards. It featured a small monochrome LCD screen and a battery life of only one hour.

1994: The Earliest Form of Smartphone Apps:

• The IBM Simon was released in 1994. At USD 1,100, it was significantly less expensive than the DynaTAC 8000X, but only about 50,000 units were sold in its first six months. Its functionality was also limited to just 15 U.S. states.
• Although it was less bulky than earlier mobile phones, the Simon was still quite large and boxy. A groundbreaking feature of the IBM Simon was its array of built-in applications, including a calendar, address book, calculator, email, notepad, and more.

1997: The Start of Mobile Gaming:

• Are you a fan of Wordle, or does Roblox suit your taste better? Back in 1997, the landscape of mobile gaming was quite different.
• Nokia 6110 users were introduced to Snake, a game crafted by Finnish software engineer Taneli Armanto during that time.
• Its straightforward and family-friendly gameplay quickly captured the hearts of players, marking the inception of the mobile gaming industry, which has since grown to over USD 152 billion. In the same year, Ericsson coined the term “smartphone” to describe their GS88 prototype, though it never reached the market. This term was introduced a decade before the debut of the iPhone.

2000: The First Camera Phone:

• As the new millennium began, Sharp introduced the concept of the camera phone to the world. While initially available only in Japan, the J-SH04 marked the start of a growing fascination between phone users and photography.
• Weighing a mere four ounces, the J-SH04 brought phones closer to the sleek and slender designs we see today. However, its camera quality fell far below the expectations of modern smartphone users, offering only 110,000 pixels.
• In contrast, the iPhone 14 now boasts three rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel main camera. Notably, the J-SH04’s camera was exclusively rear-facing, hinting at the era of the selfie, which was still on the horizon.

2001: Cell Phones Access the Internet:

• In 2001, a groundbreaking development occurred as smartphones seamlessly connected to 3G networks for the first time.
• This integration revolutionized smartphones’ capabilities, allowing users to send email attachments and engage in video conferences on their mobile devices.
• However, this advancement came at a cost. While the smartphones themselves were priced between USD 300 and USD 700, the expense of data services rendered these new capabilities inaccessible to many users due to their high cost.

2007: Apple Takes a Bite of the Smartphone Market:

• In 2007, the smartphone landscape witnessed a monumental shift when Steve Jobs introduced the world’s first iPhone at the Macworld convention in January.
• This groundbreaking device boasted numerous features, including a touchscreen, iPod functionality, a camera, full internet access (a first for smartphones at the time), and a spacious LCD screen ideal for video viewing.
• With its sleek design, lightweight construction, and availability in 4 GB (USD 499) and 8 GB (USD 599) models, the iPhone set a new standard for mobile devices.

2008: The First Android Smartphone:

• The first Android smartphone, known as the HTC Dream or T-Mobile G1, emerged from a collaboration between HTC and Google.
• The HTC Dream debuted with Android 1.0, the inaugural version of the Android operating system. Sporting a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a 3.2-megapixel camera, it was a pioneering device.

2020: The Modern Smartphone:

• The introduction of the iPhone marked a significant turning point in the history of smartphones, setting off a chain reaction of rapid advancements in features and capabilities.
• This pivotal moment reshaped the entire landscape of mobile technology. Today’s smartphones boast unprecedented levels of memory, speed, and processing power, far surpassing what was previously thought imaginable.
• A multitude of apps have emerged, offering users a diverse range of functionalities and services, many of which have become monetized. Across the board, there have been remarkable advancements in smartphone technology.

2023 and Beyond: What’s Next?

• Future smartphone technology trends include advanced AI-powered personal assistants like Alexa and Siri, faster 5G-enabled media downloads, and screen-only devices reliant on Bluetooth.
• With wireless charging and foldable phones already prevalent, the future holds seamless connectivity and streamlined user experiences for the estimated 7.7 billion global smartphone users by 2027.

General Smartphone Sales Statistics

• Samsung overtook Apple to become the top smartphone business worldwide, accounting for almost 20% of shipment share or even 59.4 million units.
• The Apple iPhone has consistently dominated the list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones worldwide, accounting for 50% of the models.

(Reference: Statista.com)

• In the above chart, we can see the number of smartphone subscriptions globally between 2016 and 2027 in millions.
• Surrounded by the top five OEMs, Xiaomi has grown faster, registering 34% year-on-year shipment growth. Xiaomi’s worldwide shipment total for Q1 was almost 41.6 million.
• Worldwide smartphone value also increased by 7% year-on-year and reached the highest level in the first quarter.
• Samsung had decreased by almost 9% year-on-year to share with Apple in the premium segment, to Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi in the mid-tier segment, and to choose brands at the beginner level.
• Apple’s shipment decreased by 13% year over year, even though the brand’s ASP grew to a first-quarter high, driven by the advanced models’ improved performance. Globally, iPhone shipments came in at 50.5 million.
• The worldwide smartphone industry grew by approximately 2% year over year to reach about 1.25 billion units in 2025, a notable slowdown from the 6% growth cited for 2024.

As of 2024, the smartphone seller industry share ranking:

Samsung	20%
Apple	17%
Xiaomi	14%
OPPO	8%
Vivo	7%

• In terms of the area’s performance, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) revealed high yearly shipment growth, whereas Europe witnessed the highest decline.
• HONOR witnessed a healthy two-digit growth of almost 27% year on year, while Huawei grew by three digits, which is just one of the top 10 smartphones to do likewise.
• Of the top 5 smartphone brands, Xiaomi shipped 37.8 million units in Q4 2025, retaining third place with an 11.2% global market share; this was an 11.4% year-on-year decline.
• In Q4 2025, Apple shipped 81.3 million smartphones, up 4.9% year-on-year, and led the global market with a 24.2% share. 
• For full-year 2025, Apple was the top smartphone vendor globally, with a 20% market share and 10% shipment growth.
• Samsung no longer held the global No. 1 position for the full year. It ranked second in 2025 with a 19% market share and about 5% year-on-year shipment growth; however, it remained a strong second-place player and shipped 61.2 million units in Q4 2025.
• The worldwide smartphone industry grew by 2.3% year-on-year to 336.3 million shipments in Q4 2025.

Global Smartphone Shipment Statistics

• Related to regional performance, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) showed high yearly shipment growth, whereas North America witnessed the highest decrease.
• Of the top 10 smartphone brands, Motorola, Tecno, Huawei, and HONOR have witnessed double-digit yearly growth. Infinix and Itel, the different transition brands with Tecno, even witnessed double-digit yearly growth.
• Of the top 5 smartphone brands, Xiaomi shipped 37.8 million units in Q4 2025.
• Samsung lost the No.1 global spot to Apple in 2025 after holding it for 14 consecutive years, finishing the year with a 19% market share.
• The market grew by about 2% YoY to reach approximately 1.25 billion units in 2025.

Brands	Q2 2022	Q3 2022	Q4 2022	Q1 2023	Q2 2023	Q3 2023	Q4 2023	Q1 2024
Samsung	62.5	64.3	58.3	60.6	53.5	59.4	53	60
Apple	46.5	49.2	72.27	58	45.3	48.9	74	50.6
Xiaomi	39.5	40.5	33.2	30.5	33.2	41.51	40.7	40.8
OPPO	28.24	29.54	30.1	28.44	27.95	28.1	23.99	25.1
Vivo	25.47	26	23.4	20.83	21.39	22.1	23.7	21.6
Others	92.29	92.36	85.37	81.83	86.66	99.79	107.8	87.8
Total	294.5	301.9	302.6	280.2	268	299.8	323.2	296.9

Smartphone Shipment by Million Units

(Source: Statista.com)

• In the first quarter of 2024, Samsung emerged as the top smartphone vendor globally, shipping about 60 million units and securing nearly 21% of the market share.
• Apple, in second place, shipped around 50 million units, down from 55 million in the same quarter the previous year. It holds over 17% of the market. Total smartphone shipments during this period approached 290 million units.
• By 2027, the shipment share is estimated to be USD 92 million in 4G ASP, USD 377 million in SP ASP, and USD 433 million in 5G ASP.
• The global smartphone market’s overall average selling price (ASP) reached USD 357 in 2024 and is projected at USD 370 in 2025.
• The top shipment share of worldwide smartphones in the 1st quarter of 2023, with a 22% share of Samsung. At the same time, other brands are 21% Apple, 11% Xiaomi, 10% Oppo, 7% Vivo, and 29% others.
• In the second half of 2023, the brand share is 20% Samsung, 17% Apple, 12% Xiaomi, 10% Oppo, 8% Vivo, and 33% others.

U.S. Smartphone Market Share

Understanding the smartphone market share is crucial for optimizing your business’s mobile presence. Here’s a breakdown of the current landscape and historical trends in the U.S. smartphone market, which can help inform your mobile strategy:

(Reference: Oberlo.com)

Market Share (March 2024)

• Apple: 59.08%
• Samsung: 23.33%
• Motorola: 3.98%
• Google: 2.56%
• Xiaomi: 1.24%
• Apple and Samsung Lead: Combined, Apple and Samsung control 82.41% of the U.S. smartphone market. This means over eight out of ten smartphones used in the U.S. are from these two brands.
• Apple’s Dominance: Apple holds the largest share, with 59.08%. More than half of all smartphones sold in the U.S. are iPhones.
• Samsung’s Position: Samsung is the second biggest player, with a 23.33% market share. Although significantly lower than Apple, Samsung is still a major competitor.
• Other Brands: Motorola, Google, and Xiaomi follow far behind, with market shares of 3.98%, 2.56%, and 1.24%, respectively. Combined, these three brands make up only 7.78% of the market.
• Historical Trends: Apple vs. Samsung

Samsung vs. Apple Market Share in the US

(Source: Oberlo.com)

• Apple’s Steady Share: Apple has maintained a relatively stable market share over the years, fluctuating between 50.85% and 59.97% since 2011.
• Samsung’s Growth: Samsung saw significant growth during the same period. In 2011, Samsung’s market share was 9.12%. By 2014, it had more than doubled to 25.34%, showing steady gains.
• Narrowing Gap: While Apple’s market share has remained stable, Samsung has gradually closed the gap. In 2011, Apple’s lead over Samsung was 44.82 percentage points (Apple at 54.04% vs. Samsung at 9.12%). Today, that lead is narrower, with Apple at 59.08% and Samsung at 23.33%.

Why This Matters for Your Business

• Mobile-Friendly Design: Apple and Samsung devices dominate the U.S. market, so ensure your website is optimized for iOS and Android systems.
• Focus on iOS: With Apple holding the largest market share, prioritize the user experience on iPhones.
• Consider Android too: Despite Apple’s lead, Samsung’s significant share means you must recognize Android users. Ensure compatibility and smooth functionality across both platforms.
• Stay Updated: The smartphone market can shift. Monitor these trends to adapt your mobile strategy accordingly.

Mobile Commerce and Advertising

• Mobile Ad Spend: Mobile advertising in the U.S. is expected to hit USD 216.4 billion this year. Investing in mobile-friendly advertising is crucial, considering the high usage of smartphones for browsing and shopping.
• E-commerce Optimization: Optimize your online store for mobile users. The majority of smartphones are Apple and Samsung, so ensure your website performs well on both types of devices.

Smartphone Usage Statistics

• Smartphones account for almost 70% of the United States’ digital media time, entertainment consumption, and dominate games and social media.
• According to Smartphone statistics, around 17% of people in the United States still use a feature phone, and it is very common among the lower-income and elderly population.
• As of 2025, mobile apps still account for around 90% of all mobile time.
• There are almost 6.92 billion smartphone users worldwide, which accounts for almost 86% of the world’s population.
• According to the survey done by Think with Google, around 68% of smartphone users check their phones within 15 to 20 minutes of waking up.
• In the median, the citizens of the United States check their smartphones almost 96 times a day, almost once every 10 minutes.
• The people of the U.S. spend almost 5 hours and 24 minutes using their smartphone devices every day.
• According to Pew Research, 91% of U.S. adults now own a smartphone as of 2025, while overall estimates put the total number of U.S. smartphone users at over 317 million people.

Number of Smartphones Sold

(Reference: Statista.com)

• In 2022, approximately 1.39 billion smartphones were sold worldwide.
• In 2016, less than half of the global population owned a smartphone.
• In 2025, there were approximately 5.28 billion smartphone users globally.
• Projections suggest that by 2025, nearly 87% of mobile users in the United States will own a smartphone, up from 27% in 2010.
• In 2025, U.S. smartphone sales were valued at approximately 105 billion dollars, a significant increase from 18 billion dollars in 2010.
• Following the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global smartphone sales were anticipated to grow from 2020 to 2021 across all major regions.
• These points illustrate the evolving nature of the smartphone market, influenced by technological advancements, market saturation, and external economic factors.
• The continuous rise in smartphone penetration, particularly in developed markets like the United States, underscores smartphones’ essential role in modern life and their ongoing growth potential.

Smartphone Ownership Demographics

• The top 10 nations by smartphone users have grown to almost 70 million active users.
• China has a very important smartphone users globally, almost 1.5 times more than any other nation.

(explodingtopics.com)

• Among the listed nations, the United States has the largest portion of its population actively using smartphones.
• Here is the breakdown of smartphone users by Nation:

Rank	Country	Smartphone users	Total population	Smartphone penetration
1	Pakistan	72.99 million	235.82 million	31%
2	Mexico	78.37 million	127.5 million	61.5%
3	Nigeria	83.34 million	218.54 million	38.1%
4	Japan	97.44 million	123.95 million	78.6%
5	Russia	106.44 million	144.71 million	73.6%
6	Brazil	143.43 million	215.31 million	66.6%
7	Indonesia	187.7 million	275.5 million	68.1%
8	United States	276.14 million	338.29 million	81.6%
9	India	659 million	1.42 billion	46.5%
10	China	974.69 million	1.43 billion	68.4%

• According to the statistics, many people don’t or cannot have access to a smartphone; that is because 1.1 billion people don’t have access to electricity.
• According to United States Statistics, 19 out of 20 people have some form of mobile phone.
• According to a Pew Research data survey, the median smartphone user in the United States is almost 80% male, in contrast to 75% female.
• Around 3% of the population is in favor of women when it comes to owning a non-smartphone mobile phone.
• The 18- to 29-year-old population is the youngest adult group with the highest proportion of smartphone users, at 94%.
• After those above 70 years, the next largest ratio of smartphone owners is the one aged between 30 and 49 years at 89%. It is then followed by the ratio of the age group of 50 to 60 years at 73% and lastly the ratio of the age group 65 and over at 46%.
• What is not surprising is the fact that a high number of United States citizens residing in urban areas use smartphones at 83% compared to 78% of urban dwellers and 65% of rural citizens.
• The results from the survey indicate that there were very major differences for minorities regarding smartphone ownership. Almost 77% of whites, 77% of Hispanics, and 75% of blacks have smartphones.
• 98% of black United States citizens own some form of mobile phone, compared to 97% of Hispanic people and 94% of white people.
• People who have a level of education have a positive relationship with smartphones. The following are the details:

Education Level	Cell Phone Ownership	Smartphone Only Ownership	Non-smartphone-only ownership
College Graduate	97%	91%	6%
Some College	96%	80%	16%
High school graduate	92%	69%	24%
Less than high school	90%	57%	33%

• There was even a positive relationship between yearly salary and smartphone ownership.
• According to Pew Research, almost 67% of the population earning under USD 30,000 per year owns a smartphone.
• There has been a slight growth in the number of United States citizens who earn between USD 30,000 and USD 49,999, with a smart almost 82% and people who earn between USD 50,000 and USD 74,999.
• As per Newzoo and Quartz, people in the United States earn almost USD 75,000 per year and generally own a smartphone, which is equal to 93%.

Smartphone Market Share Statistics

• In recent years, Samsung has claimed around one-third of the smartphone market, the biggest share that year.
• Other than Apple, no other brand has claimed more than 4% of the market.
• Till 2020, five brands have claimed a market share of around 8%.

Year	Samsung	Apple	Huawei	Xiaomi	OPPO	Vivo	Lenovo
2012	30.3%	18.7%	4%	–	–	–	3.3%
2013	31.3%	15.3%	4.9%	–	–	–	4.5%
2014	24.4%	14.8%	5.7%	4.4%	–	–	4.6%
2015	22.3%	16.1%	7.4%	4.9%	3%	2.6%	5.2%
2016	21.1%	14.6%	9.5%	3.6%	6.8%	5.3%	–
2017	21.7%	14.7%	10.5%	6.3%	7.6%	–	–
2018	20.8%	14.9%	14.7%	8.7%	8.1%	–	–
2019	21.6%	13.9%	17.6%	9.2%	8.3%	–	–
2020	20.6%	15.9%	14.6%	11.4%	–	8.6%	–
Q2 2021	18.9%	14.2%	–	16.9%	10.5%	10.1%	–
Q2 2022	21.8%	15.6%	–	13.8%	8.6%	8.7%	–

The two main mobile operating systems that are used in smartphones are iOS and Android as of 2023:

Name	O.S. market share
Android	70.16%
iOS	29.14%
Samsung	0.38%
KaiOS	0.12%
Windows	0.02%
Nokia Unknown	0.01%
Linux	0.01%

Smartphone Market Share in India

Xiaomi leads the Indian smartphone market with a 20.70% annual share, followed by Vivo at 18.23% and Samsung at 13.69%. This article provides detailed insights into smartphone shipments in India, covering both mid-range and premium segments. Discover the number of units sold each year, month, and quarter.

Most Popular Smartphone Brands in India (2024):

Brands	Market share
Xiaomi	20.67%
Vivo	18.22%
Samsung	13.69%
Realme	13.45%
OPPO	11.71%
OnePlus	4.82%
Apple	4.10%
Others	13.30%

• General market share percentage: Xiaomi had a high market share in India in the most recent quarter, with almost 20.67%. Vivo recently overtook Samsung, and it ranks in second place with almost 18.22% brand share. Samsung is ranked third with a 13.69% brand share. OPPO, Realme, OnePlus, and Apple, the top seven smartphone brands in India, have a market share of 13.45%, 11.71%, 4.82%, and 4.10%, respectively.
• Apple by market share percentage: In 2025, Apple shipped a record 14 million iPhones, achieving an estimated 10%-unit market share and ranking fifth overall by volume.
• OPPO by market share percentage: OPPO ranked fourth in India’s smartphone market in 2025, with an estimated 13% shipment share and approximately 20 million units shipped.
• Huawei by market share percentage: Huawei was not among India’s leading smartphone vendors in 2025, and its share remained below 1%.
• Samsung by market share percentage: Samsung ranked second in India in 2025, with an estimated 15% shipment share and around 23 million units. Its shipments reportedly declined about 11% year over year.
• Vivo by market share percentage: Vivo was India’s leading smartphone vendor in 2025, with about 23% shipment share and approximately 32.1 million units, reflecting around 19% year-on-year growth.
• Xiaomi by market share percentage: Xiaomi ranked third in India in 2025, with an estimated 13% shipment share and around 19.7 million units. Its shipments declined about 26% year over year.

(2024-2028 are the predicted volumes)

(Reference: sellcell.com)

YEAR	SOLD PER YEAR (Millions of units)	SOLD PER MONTH (Millions of units)	SOLD PER DAY (Millions of units)
2028*	1855.7	154.64	5.08
2027*	1863.6	155.30	5.11
2026*	1850	154.17	5.07
2025*	1847.5	153.96	5.06
2024*	1844.8	153.73	5.05
2023	1822.3	151.86	4.99
2022	1749.7	145.81	4.79
2021	1747.8	145.65	4.79
2020	1649.1	137.43	4.52
2019	1816.8	151.40	4.98
2018	1820.4	151.70	4.99
2017	1803.4	150.28	4.94
2016	1813.9	151.16	4.97
2015	1763.5	146.96	4.83
2014	1854.5	154.54	5.08
2013	1816.4	151.37	4.98
2012	1790.24	149.19	4.90
2011	1774.85	147.90	4.86
2010	1593.47	132.79	4.37
2009	1166.46	97.21	3.20

• Between 2009 and 2025, the daily average of mobile phone sales was approximately 4.78 million units. 
• In 2025, this figure reached about 5.06 million units per day, compared with 4.99 million in 2023; the peak daily average remains 5.08 million units in 2014. 
• Projections indicate that by 2027, average daily mobile-phone sales will rise modestly to 5.11 million units.

Production of Cell Phones in China

The data source covers Jan and Feb

(Reference:sellcell.com)

MONTH	MADE PER MONTH (Millions of units)	MADE PER DAY (Millions of units)
Nov 2022	141.70	4.72
Oct 2022	154.14	4.97
Sep 2022	155.84	5.19
Aug 2022	127.72	4.12
Jul 2022	120.50	3.89
Jun 2022	136.12	4.54
May 2022	126.67	4.09
Apr 2022	126.93	4.23
Mar 2022	143.84	4.64
*Jan/Feb 2022	212.71	3.61
Dec 2021	174.61	5.63
Nov 2021	160.23	5.34
Sep 2021	151.65	5.06
Aug 2021	133.16	4.30
Jul 2021	126.92	4.09
Jun 2021	143.22	4.77
May 2021	132.35	4.27
Apr 2021	127.54	4.25
Mar 2021	137.23	4.43
*Jan/Feb 2021	208.59	3.54
Dec 2020	164.96	5.32
Nov 2020	149.66	4.99
Oct 2020	131.01	4.23
Sep 2020	148.77	4.96
Aug 2020	131.20	4.23
Jul 2020	122.26	3.94
Jun 2020	129.90	4.33
May 2020	110.82	3.57
Apr 2020	108.64	3.62
Mar 2020	118.04	3.81
*Jan/Feb 2020	138.77	2.35
Dec 2019	175.29	5.65
Nov 2019	180.91	6.03
Oct 2019	160.96	5.19
Aug 2019	145.23	4.68
Jul 2019	140.41	4.53
Jun 2019	151.26	5.04
May 2019	146.03	4.71

• On average, China manufactures 4.54 million cell phones per day.
• The peak production was in September 2024, with 5.68 million units produced daily.
• The lowest production occurred in April 2025, with 3.64 million units.
• Excluding this period, the lowest production rate was in May 2020, at 3.57 million units per day.

Annual Smartphone Sales by Manufacturer

2023 is related to preliminary results and subject to change.

(Reference:sellcell.com)

Manufacturer	Shipments (Millions of units)
Transsion	94.9
OPPO	103.1
Xiaomi	145.9
Samsung	226.6
Apple	234.6
Others	36

• The data from Statista and IDC highlights a significant shift in the smartphone market dynamics in 2025. Here are some key points and insights based on the information provided:

Apple’s Milestone in 2023:

• Units Sold: Apple shipped an estimated 240.6 million iPhones in 2025.
• Significance: This marks the first time in over a decade that Apple has outsold Samsung in annual smartphone sales.

Samsung’s Performance:

• Units Sold: Samsung sold 235 million smartphones.
• Position: Samsung was the second-highest seller in 2023, closely following Apple.

Xiaomi’s Position:

• Units Sold: Xiaomi sold 165.2 million handsets.
• Ranking: Xiaomi is in third place, making it a strong contender in the smartphone market.

Historical Context:

• In 2007, RIM (BlackBerry) and Nokia were the dominant players.
• The introduction of smartphones marked the decline of Nokia and BlackBerry in 2008.
• Apple’s Growth: Apple’s sales surged from 3.3 million in 2007 to 93.1 million in 2011, an increase of almost 30 times.
• Samsung’s Historical Dominance—Samsung had been the leading smartphone seller for over a decade until Apple narrowed its lead in 2023.
• Apple’s Strategic Moves: Apple’s ability to outsell Samsung in 2023 could be attributed to strategic product launches, innovations, and perhaps stronger consumer loyalty or market expansion.
• Competitive Landscape: Despite Apple’s success, Samsung remains a formidable competitor with very close sales figures, indicating a highly competitive market.
• Emerging Contenders: Xiaomi’s strong sales highlight its potential to challenge the top two brands, especially in markets with a strong presence.
• Market Evolution: The shift from RIM and Nokia to Apple and Samsung underscores the rapid evolution of the smartphone market and the importance of innovation and adaptability.
• Future Projections: The close sales figures between Apple and Samsung suggest that future market leadership fluctuates depending on technological advancements, market strategies, and consumer preferences.

Total Number of Mobile Phones Sold Every Year by Nation

2024 – 2028 are estimated volumes

(Reference:sellcell.com)

For the forecast year 2028.

Country	Sales in millions of units
Vietnam	23.0
United States	143.3
United Kingdom	31.2
Turkey	30.6
Thailand	15.4
Spain	11.1
South Korea	20.0
Russia	52.5
Philippines	24.7
Mexico	31.9
Japan	31.3
Italy	21.7
Indonesia	66.1
India	272.1
Germany	24.1
France	23.7
China	397.5
Canada	14.4
Brazil	46.4
Australia	8.9

• The sales data for 2025 underscores the dominance of the Chinese market in the global smartphone industry, with staggering figures compared to other territories. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

China:

• Sales Volume: 285 million mobile phones sold.
• Significance: China emerges as the largest market for smartphone sales in 2025, reflecting its massive consumer base and growing tech-savvy population.

India:

• Sales Volume: 152 million mobile phones sold.
• Position: India follows China, indicating its significant presence in the global smartphone market.

United States:

• Sales Volume: 143.6 million mobile phones sold.
• Ranking: The U.S. ranks third in smartphone sales, highlighting its importance but trailing behind China and India.

Historical Trends:

• China’s Consistent Growth: China’s sales figures have been consistently high over the years, indicating sustained growth and demand for smartphones in the country.
• UK Market Growth: Smartphone sales in the U.K. increased from 2022 to 2023, with 29.9 million phones sold compared to 28.6 million in the previous year. This suggests a growing market or potentially increased consumer demand or upgrade cycles.
• Global Market Dynamics: The data underscores the importance of emerging markets like China and India in driving global smartphone sales due to their large populations and increasing tech adoption.
• Regional Variances: The disparity in sales figures between regions highlights the diverse consumer preferences, economic factors, and market dynamics influencing smartphone adoption.
• Implications for Brands: Smartphone brands need to tailor their strategies to effectively target and penetrate key markets like China and India while also addressing specific needs and preferences in other regions such as the U.S. and the U.K.

Recent Developments in Smartphone Sales

• In January 2025, IDC reported that global smartphone shipments reached 1.24 billion units in 2024, marking a 6.2% year-over-year increase.
• In March 2025, Apple reported record iPhone sales of 232 million units in fiscal year 2024, with the iPhone 16 series driving significant growth in markets like India and Southeast Asia.
• In April 2025, Counterpoint Research reported that India surpassed the United States to become the world’s second-largest smartphone market by shipments in 2024, with 167 million units sold.
• In May 2025, Samsung maintained its position as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by volume, shipping approximately 223 million units in 2024.

Final Thoughts

The smartphone market continues to expand, with numerous brands competing for consumer attention. Given the wide array of options, choosing the right smartphone can be difficult. However, examining smartphone sales statistics can offer valuable insights into the popularity of different brands and the features they provide. It’s important to note that market positions can change rapidly.

A brand that is leading today might need to catch up tomorrow (as seen with Huawei), while another brand might emerge from obscurity to become a fast-growing contender, like Realme. Despite a downturn in the smartphone market at the beginning of 2022, the leading smartphone manufacturers will continue innovating and growing.

FAQ