Counterpoint: iPhone 16 was the world’s best-selling phone in Q3
Source: GSMArena.com - Latest articlesDecember 9, 2025
Apple topped global smartphone sales in the third quarter, and it did it with last year’s lineup, not its newest flagships. Counterpoint Research reports that the iPhone 16 was the single best-selling phone worldwide from July to September, taking 4% of all shipments.
The standard iPhone 16 led Apple’s performance in key markets, selling strongly in India during festive-season discounts and regaining ground in Japan. The rest of the iPhone 16 family — the 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16e — filled out the next spots in the rankings, underlining that Apple’s previous-generation devices are still driving much of its volume.