Samsung flop: Here are the 10 best-selling smartphones in the world

New data from analyst firm Counterpoint Research shows a marked difference in consumers’ mobile choices globally.

In the third quarter of 2025, Apple’s iPhones took the top four places on the list of the world’s best-selling smartphones, while Samsung’s flagship models were conspicuous by their absence.

Global sales of smartphones show that consumers largely prefer cheaper models to top models.

The best-selling smartphone during the period was the iPhone 16, followed by the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16e.

The cheaper iPhone 16e is doing particularly well globally, although it plays a smaller role in the Danish market.

Samsung dominates Android sales with the A-series

Although Samsung has five models in the top 10, only low-cost and mid-range phones from the Galaxy A series contribute to sales.

The Galaxy A16 5G is the world’s best-selling Android phone in the third quarter, and models such as the Galaxy A06, A36 and A56 are also among the top sellers.

There is not a single top model from Samsung on the list.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra, launched earlier this year, was only briefly in the top 10 in the first quarter and has since slipped out.

This can partly be explained by the fact that Samsung launches at the beginning of the year, while Apple’s new models are typically launched in the third quarter.

The top 10 list from Counterpoint looks like this:

1. iPhone 16
2. iPhone 16 Pro Max
3. iPhone 16 Pro
4. iPhone 16e
5. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
6. Samsung Galaxy A06
7. Samsung Galaxy A36
8. Samsung Galaxy A56
9. Samsung Galaxy A16 4G
10. iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max just entered the global list at number 10, suggesting that the company’s latest generation is gaining ground.