A new Counterpoint Research report shows that the iPhone 17 overtook the iPhone 17 Pro Max and became the world’s best-selling smartphone during the first three months of 2026. Here are the details.
iPhone claims four spots in Counterpoint’s global top 10
Last month, Counterpoint Research released its Global Top 10 Best-selling Smartphones ranking for Q4 2025, showing the iPhone 17 Pro Max accounting for 5% of global sales, followed by the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 16.
That came after the firm’s Q3 2025 ranking, where the iPhone 17 Pro Max debuted in 10th place just weeks after its release.
Now, preliminary data for Q1 2026 puts the iPhone 17 in the lead with a 6% share of global smartphone sales, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro rounding out the top three.
The top 10 continues with the Samsung Galaxy A07 4G and Galaxy A17 5G, followed by the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, the Galaxy A17 4G, and Xiaomi’s Redmi A5 closing out the list.
While Counterpoint didn’t disclose the sales share for devices beyond the iPhone 17’s 6%, it is notable how the top three stand well ahead of the rest of the list. They did note, however, that the “top 10 smartphones contributed 25% of global unit sales, the highest Q1 concentration ever.”
Here’s Counterpoint’s Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi on Apple’s performance for the quarter:
“iPhone 17 continues to outperform its predecessor owing to key upgrades like higher base storage, camera resolution, display refresh rate bringing the smartphone closer to the Pro variants and providing overall value for larger market. The smartphone registered double digit YoY growth in key markets like China, the US and 3x in South Korea for the quarter. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pro captured the following two spots, offering even more advanced capabilities across camera, battery and new colour, material and finish.”
Counterpoint also noted that, despite Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missing the top 10, the device saw stronger initial sales than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with its privacy display and AI feature upgrades standing out as key highlights.
Also absent from the ranking was the iPhone Air, which was likewise missing from the Q4 2025 list.
To check out Counterpoint Research’s full report on global smartphone sales for Q1 2026, follow this link.
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