Apple just did it again. According to fresh data from Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 16 was the world’s top-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2025. It beat out not just Android rivals, but also its pricier Pro-level siblings.
And here’s what makes that such a big deal: this year, it wasn’t the Pro Max or some ultra-premium flagship that topped the chart. It was Apple’s regular iPhone 16.
Apple Takes the Top 4 Spots
The global Q1 2025 leaderboard looks like this:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 15
- Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
Apple owns the top four spots. And five out of the top ten overall, with the iPhone 16 Plus landing in tenth place. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, the company’s flagship, came in seventh behind several iPhones.
What Made the iPhone 16 So Popular?
A few things likely made the base iPhone 16 stand out:
- It’s running the A18 chip, which is nearly as fast as the A18 Pro in the higher-end models
- It includes both the Action button and the new Camera Control button, features previously limited to the Pro series
- It delivers just enough Pro-level power and polish without the premium price tag
In other words, Apple finally gave the standard model real flagship DNA, and it paid off.
Regional Performance: Where It Dominated (and Didn’t)
The iPhone 16 performed especially well in Japan and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Those markets leaned heavily into the base iPhone’s balance of power and price.
In China, though, the story was different. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max took a hit due to:
- Government subsidies favoring more affordable phones
- Rising competition from Chinese brands like Huawei
Even so, Apple’s global strength helped keep it in control of the top rankings.
The Pro Max Was Number One Last Year. So What Changed?
In Q1 2024, the iPhone 15 Pro Max narrowly held the top spot. But now, the standard iPhone is leading the way. The gap between the base and Pro models has narrowed significantly, and Apple seems to know it.
Instead of keeping all the best features exclusive to the top-tier models, Apple brought more of them to the base version. That makes the iPhone 16 a much easier sell to buyers who want performance without the Pro price.
The iPhone 16e Is One to Watch
Even though it was only available for part of the quarter, the iPhone 16e grabbed the sixth spot in March, its first full month on sale. That’s serious momentum for a brand-new model.
Analysts expect it to outsell the iPhone SE’s first-year numbers, thanks to its modern design and midrange price point with flagship-level features.
Final Thought
The iPhone 16 shows that you don’t have to spend a thousand dollars to get the best-selling phone on the planet. By blending top-tier features into the standard model, Apple delivered a phone people actually want to buy.
And in 2025, that might be the smartest move it could have made.
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