Note (October 2026): The infographic below dates from December 2013, when Samsung was reported to lead the US market. Current data shows Apple ahead of Samsung in worldwide shipments for full-year 2025 (IDC) and in US mobile usage share (StatCounter, September 2026).
Apple narrowly outsold Samsung in 2025. According to IDC, Apple shipped 247.8 million smartphones in 2025 (19.7% global share) against Samsung’s 241.2 million (19.1%), out of 1.26 billion phones worldwide. Samsung regained the top spot in the second quarter of 2026 with 62.7 million units to Apple’s 55.8 million, so the lead changes quarter to quarter.
Key Takeaways
- IDC ranked Apple first for full-year 2025 with 247.8 million shipments, ahead of Samsung’s 241.2 million.
- IDC said 2025 was Apple’s third consecutive year as the leading smartphone vendor by annual shipments.
- In Q2 2026 Samsung led with a 22.6% share versus Apple’s 20.1%, while the total market fell 6.7% year over year.
- In the US, Apple devices accounted for 53.58% of mobile usage in September 2026, versus 28.11% for Samsung (StatCounter).
- Android still runs about 69% of the world’s mobile devices in use, because Samsung is only one of many Android makers.
Smartphone Sales Figures: Apple vs. Samsung
This smartphone sales figures infographic, published in December 2013, shows smartphone users, device ownership by age group, US smartphone owners by age, market shares of operating systems, device manufacturers (smartphones and non-smartphones) and the estimated number of apps per platform at that time.
The original infographic is reproduced below. Its figures describe the market in 2013; current Apple and Samsung sales figures follow after it.
When this infographic was published in late 2013, Apple appeared to be losing some momentum in worldwide smartphone sales, as data at the time showed the Cupertino-based company losing percentage points of market share. According to the infographic, the winner in the US smartphone market at that time was no longer Apple. Instead, Samsung had become the apple of American smartphone buyers’ eyes. That position has since reversed: in StatCounter’s September 2026 data, Apple devices made up 53.58% of US mobile usage against 28.11% for Samsung. That was true at least in the gaps between Apple’s new product announcements.
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Apple vs Samsung Annual Smartphone Sales
Apple was the world’s largest smartphone vendor by shipments in 2025, according to IDC figures published on January 13, 2026. Apple and Samsung together took 39% of the global market, up from 37% in 2024, which IDC attributed to buyers moving toward higher-end phones.
| Company | 2025 shipments | 2025 share | 2024 shipments | 2024 share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 247.8 million | 19.7% | 233.1 million | 18.9% | +6.3% |
| Samsung | 241.2 million | 19.1% | 223.5 million | 18.1% | +7.9% |
| Xiaomi | 165.3 million | 13.1% | 168.4 million | 13.6% | -1.9% |
| vivo | 103.9 million | 8.2% | 101.2 million | 8.2% | +2.7% |
| OPPO | 102.0 million | 8.1% | 104.8 million | 8.5% | -2.7% |
| Total market | 1,260.3 million | 100% | 1,236.3 million | 100% | +1.9% |
Source: IDC preliminary shipment data, January 2026. IDC said Apple held the annual lead for the third consecutive year and reached record shipments, helped by demand for the iPhone 17 series and a rebound in China. Other research firms publish slightly different numbers because each one estimates shipments with its own methods.
Apple vs Samsung Quarterly Smartphone Shipments
Samsung led global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2026, according to IDC data published on July 13, 2026. Samsung grew 8.1% year over year in the quarter, while Apple grew 15.3% and posted what IDC called record-high second-quarter shipments.
| Company | Q2 2026 shipments | Q2 2026 share | Q2 2025 shipments | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 62.7 million | 22.6% | 58.0 million | +8.1% |
| Apple | 55.8 million | 20.1% | 48.4 million | +15.3% |
| Xiaomi | 31.2 million | 11.2% | 42.4 million | -26.3% |
| OPPO | 28.8 million | 10.4% | 34.9 million | -17.5% |
| vivo | 21.2 million | 7.6% | 26.3 million | -19.4% |
| Total market | 277.5 million | 100% | 297.4 million | -6.7% |
IDC linked the 6.7% market decline to a memory-chip crisis that pushed up component costs. IDC reported that memory costs were up nearly 300% from a year earlier and that the squeeze hurt low-cost brands most, which is why Apple and Samsung were the only top-five vendors to grow in Q2 2026. In July 2026 IDC said Apple was on course for a record annual share of about 22% for 2026.
Apple vs Samsung Market Share in the United States
Apple is the leading phone brand in the United States by devices in use. StatCounter’s September 2026 figures show Apple at 53.58% of US mobile usage, Samsung at 28.11%, Motorola at 3.49% and Google at 3.16%. On the operating-system level, iOS had 53.59% of US mobile usage and Android 46.39% in the same month.
This is the reverse of the 2013 picture described in the infographic above, when Samsung was reported to be the more popular brand with American buyers.
Apple vs Samsung Worldwide: Shipments vs Usage Share
Shipments and usage share measure different things. Shipment figures from research firms such as IDC count new phones sent to retailers and carriers in a period. Usage share from StatCounter estimates which devices are being used to browse the web, so it reflects the whole installed base, including older phones.
- Worldwide vendor usage share (StatCounter, September 2026): Apple 30.8%, Samsung 23.52%, Xiaomi 11.06%.
- Worldwide mobile OS usage share (StatCounter, September 2026): Android 69.17%, iOS 30.81%.
- Worldwide shipments (IDC, full-year 2025): Apple 19.7%, Samsung 19.1%.
Android outnumbers iOS worldwide even though Apple outsells Samsung, because Android also powers phones from Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Motorola, Google and many others. App developers deciding between the two platforms can read our guide on whether to target Android or Apple first.
How the Apple vs Samsung Race Has Changed
| Measure | 2013 (infographic) | Latest data |
|---|---|---|
| US market leader | Samsung, according to the infographic | Apple: 53.58% of US mobile usage vs Samsung’s 28.11% (StatCounter, September 2026) |
| Global annual shipment leader | Apple described as losing share | Apple: 247.8 million vs Samsung’s 241.2 million (IDC, full-year 2025) |
| Global quarterly leader | Not covered | Samsung: 22.6% vs Apple’s 20.1% (IDC, Q2 2026) |
| Social sharing named in the post | Facebook and Google+ | Google+ consumer service closed April 2, 2019 |
What the Figures Mean for Buyers
Sales rankings show which brand is popular, not which phone suits a particular person. For people switching from a Samsung or other Android phone to an iPhone, our guide on transferring contacts from Android to iPhone covers the move step by step. Anyone buying a second-hand model can use the checklist of things to check before buying a used iPhone, and every new phone owner should review these smartphone safety and privacy tips. For a wider device comparison, see whether smartphones are more powerful than tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple or Samsung sell more phones?
Apple sold slightly more smartphones than Samsung in 2025: IDC counted 247.8 million Apple shipments against 241.2 million for Samsung. Samsung led in the second quarter of 2026, so the answer depends on the period measured.
What is Apple’s global smartphone market share?
Apple’s share of global smartphone shipments was 19.7% for full-year 2025 and 20.1% in Q2 2026, according to IDC. Apple devices made up 30.8% of worldwide mobile web usage in September 2026, according to StatCounter.
Is Samsung more popular than Apple in the US?
No. In September 2026 StatCounter recorded Apple at 53.58% of US mobile usage and Samsung at 28.11%. The infographic on this page reflects 2013, when Samsung was reported to lead US buyers.
How many smartphones are sold worldwide each year?
About 1.26 billion smartphones were shipped worldwide in 2025, up 1.9% from 1.24 billion in 2024, according to IDC.
Why is Android bigger than iOS if Apple sells the most phones?
Android is used by many manufacturers, including Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo, while iOS runs only on iPhones. StatCounter put Android at 69.17% and iOS at 30.81% of worldwide mobile usage in September 2026.
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