iPhone 17 emerges as best-selling smartphone in Q2

US-based tech giant Apple continued to dominate the smartphone game, with iPhone 17 tagged as the world’s best-selling smartphone in the second quarter of the year, data from Counterpoint Research showed.

Apple iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple maintains sales growth

Based on its Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, Apple's iPhone 17 secured 6 percent of the global smartphone unit sales.

Of the top 10 smartphones, Apple secured five slots. After iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro grabbed the second and third spots. The iPhone 17E and iPhone 16 were likewise included in the list.

Senior analyst Karn Chauhan said Apple continued to beat the market, growing its unit sales by 5 percent year-on-year despite a sluggish sector. Counterpoint Research particularly saw robust momentum across India, Japan, the Middle East and Africa region, and South Korea.

Apple iPhone 17 in Sage and in Lavender, price starts at PHP 57,990

The base iPhone 17 model remained the best-selling smartphone during the quarter, supported by significant upgrades that narrowed the gap with the Pro models. Meanwhile, strong premium demand drove the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max sales, aided by trade-in programs, promotions, and accessible financing options that improved affordability. Rising smartphone prices also pushed consumers towards the higher-end segments, further strengthening Apple's competitive position, Chauhan said.

The other five contenders were under South Korea's Samsung, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra as its strongest unit.

The Galaxy A07, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A17 4G, and Galaxy S26 completed the list.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra outperformed its predecessor and accounted for more than half of the series' sales. Industry-first privacy display along with enhanced AI capabilities differentiate the smartphone from its peers. Samsung has further increased its focus on flagship smartphones, boosting promotions and strategically allocating resources to mitigate the revenue decline amid rising costs, added Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi.

Source: Counterpoint Research