Apple has claimed the top spot in global smartphone shipments for Q4 2025, ending Samsung's 14-year reign. According to preliminary IDC data, Cupertino shipped 81.3 million units, capturing a 24.2% market share. This surge was driven by the successful iPhone 17 series, marking Apple's best quarterly growth since 2021.

Overall market shipments grew 2.3% to 336.3 million units, defying economic headwinds and component shortages. Samsung held second place with 61.2 million shipments but posted the strongest growth among top brands at 18.3%. Xiaomi, vivo, and Oppo rounded out the top five, though Xiaomi saw a double-digit decline year-over-year.

For the full year, Apple remained the clear winner with a record 247.8 million shipments and 19.7% market share, narrowly beating Samsung's 241.2 million. However, analysts warn the memory chip shortage will severely disrupt supply chains in 2026, likely driving up prices and favoring larger manufacturers who can secure components.