iPhone 17 Remains World's Best Selling Smartphone

The iPhone 17 retained its position as the world's best selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ holding the next two spots on the firm's quarterly ranking. Data from Counterpoint's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker places the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ at 6% of global smartphone unit sales for the second quarter, building on the top spot it already held in the first quarter. Apple and Samsung filled all ten of the top spots, with a combined 26% share of worldwide unit sales that was two points higher than a year earlier. Counterpoint tied the growth to regional strength outside Apple's usual core markets, with gains in India, Japan, and the Middle East and Africa, plus a near doubling of sales in South Korea. 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 across the industry also nudged buyers toward more expensive pricing tiers generally, which largely worked in Apple's favor given its lineup skews upmarket already. The iPhone 17e took seventh place following its refresh that added MagSafe and increased storage for the same price, boosted by compelling carrier deals in the U.S. and Japan. The iPhone 16 rounded out the list at number ten, leaving Apple with five of the ten slots, which is the same count and nearly the same positions Apple held a year earlier with the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup and iPhone 15. Samsung's best performer was the Galaxy S26 Ultra in fourth place, which is the first time that Samsung's top tier device has outsold every other Android phone in the second quarter. This is said to partly be a reflection of Samsung steering more marketing spend toward its flagship models to protect margins as costs climb. Samsung's cheaper Galaxy A phones also remained competitive further down the market. Overall, the smartphone market shrank 11% in the quarter, a contraction Counterpoint links to the ongoing shortages and price rises that has manufacturers concentrating resources on their most profitable phones. Apple and Samsung both grew unit sales against that backdrop, a divergence that is visible in Counterpoint's regional data as well. Popular StoriesApple Captures 65% of Global Premium Smartphone MarketApple captured 65% of the global premium smartphone market in the first half of 2026, as the wider premium segment's share of overall smartphone sales climbed to a record 29%. That's according to Counterpoint Research's Handset Model Sales Tracker, which tracks smartphones with a wholesale average selling price of $600 or more. Apple's premium segment revenue grew 9% year-over-year in the...Smartphone Sales Are Falling Worldwide, But Apple Keeps GrowingApple gained ground in India, Latin America, and Europe even as all three markets contracted, according to a new series of Counterpoint Research reports. Between late March and the beginning of August, Indian smartphone sales ran 14% behind the equivalent stretch of 2025, and the market slipped for three straight weeks once major promotions in July had finished. Apple outperformed every...5 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Now Instead of Waiting for iPhone 18Monday August 24, 2026 3:05 am PDT by Tim HardwickApple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable are less than a month away from being unveiled. That may sound like a reason to sit tight if you're looking to upgrade from an iPhone 16 or older series, but between looming price hikes and Apple's new split-launch calendar, there's a decent case for grabbing an iPhone 17 series model right now. Here are five reasons in favor of putting your...