IDC: Apple, Samsung lead smartphone growth as market expands by 2.3 percent in Q4 2025
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Apart from Counterpoint Research report, IDC also released its data for smartphone shipments in 2025.
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| File photo: iPhone 16 Series |
Challenges expected in 2026
The International Data Corporation's (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker showed that the global smartphone shipments increased 2.3 percent to 336.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2025. This was despite the memory shortage crisis in the said period.
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| IDC report, top smartphone shipments 2025 |
The total number of smartphones shipped reached 1.26 billion units in 2025.
The market was supported by sustained premium growth, strong momentum in foldables, and accelerated pull-in demand as consumers anticipated upcoming price hikes.
Despite a challenging year marked with tariff volatility, supply chain disruption, and persistent macroeconomic headwinds across several markets, the global smartphone market demonstrated remarkable resilience, closing 2025 with a solid 1.9% year-over-year growth," said Nabila Popal, senior research director for Worldwide Client Devices, IDC.
Popal said Apple and Samsung were the primary growth drivers, posting the highest growth rates amongst the Top 5 at 6.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Apple maintained its leadership for the third consecutive year, achieving record-high shipments and a strong rebound in China, fueled by the success of the iPhone 17 Series.
Apple and Samsung’s combined share expanded by two percentage points to 39 percent, up from 37 percent last year.
Samsung delivered its strongest Q4 growth since 2013, driven by strong sales of its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and affordable AI-enabled Galaxy A-Series devices, while Apple achieved its best fourth quarter since 2021 and delivered the highest ever revenue in a single quarter, a strong testament to the success of the iPhone 17 lineup, said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for Worldwide Client Devices, IDC.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO largely retained their market positions in 2025, with only marginal share losses.
Xiaomi maintained its third position for the quarter and year, despite double digit decline in Q4, stemming from challenges of transitioning its portfolio toward higher price points and increased competition in China.
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| IDC Report Q4 |
vivo remains heavily reliant on India, which was the primary driver for its growth, while OPPO delivered a stronger Q4, supported by new product launches and strong performance in China, although its full-year performance was constrained by softer demand outside China.
The memory shortage, which is widely considered an unprecedented supply chain disruption, will cause the market to decline in 2026, and the duration of the shortage will ultimately determine the extent of the market contraction," said Ryan Reith, group vice president for Worldwide Client Devices at IDC.
This is a time where the size and scale of the OEM will be critical, as larger players will be better able to secure advantageous supply and workable price points. Despite the outlook being down, ASPs are expected to rise because of cost increases, Reith added.
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Source: IDC
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