Bloomberg reports that Apple is poised to reclaim its title as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer for the first time in 14 years, buoyed by the successful launch of its new iPhone series.
Citing data from global research firm Counterpoint Research, Bloomberg reports that Apple is projected to capture 19.4% of the market in terms of sales volume this year, driven by the popularity of its latest iPhone models.
Counterpoint Research forecasts a 10% growth in iPhone sales this year, while Samsung’s market share is expected to be around 4.6%.
While Apple has consistently led in revenue, it has trailed Samsung in sales volume due to Samsung’s broader product range. If Apple surpasses Samsung in unit sales, it will mark the first time since 2011.
The iPhone 17 series, launched in September, has been a hit in the U.S. and China, encouraging more consumers to upgrade their devices and driving double-digit year-over-year sales growth.
Counterpoint also notes that Apple has benefited from increased purchases in emerging markets, attributed to easing U.S.-China trade tensions and a weaker dollar.
The research firm predicts Apple will maintain its top position in mobile phone sales until 2029. Apple plans to introduce a foldable iPhone and a budget-friendly iPhone 17e in 2026, with a major iPhone redesign slated for 2027, according to Bloomberg.
Yang Wang, an analyst at Counterpoint, attributes this success to the positive market reception of the iPhone 17 series and the smartphone replacement cycle reaching a critical juncture. He adds that consumers who bought smartphones during the COVID-19 pandemic are now entering the upgrade phase.
Wang further points out that 358 million used iPhones were sold from 2023 to the second quarter of 2025, suggesting that these users are likely to upgrade to new iPhones in the near future.
Apple reported faster-than-expected sales growth last month and anticipates holiday-quarter revenue approaching a record 140 billion USD.