the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Almost two months later, two models of the iPhone 17 remain unavailable for purchase online, with the $799 iPhone 17 experiencing longer delivery times compared to the Pro Max, an unforeseen situation for the standard model. Given this context, a recent report from Counterpoint Research revealing that an iPhone was the most sold smartphone in Q3 2025, or the September quarter when Apple introduced the iPhone 17 series, is not shocking. However, it is not an iPhone 17 variant that is leading the pack.
Rather, the regular iPhone 16 that debuted a year earlier claimed the top position. Counterpoint Research’s data indicates that both Apple and Samsung each had five devices in the top 10 best-selling smartphones of Q3 2025, but it is far from a draw. None of Samsung’s flagship phones from 2024 or 2025 made it to the top 10: Only the mid-range Galaxy A-series models are represented on the list. Samsung’s highest-ranked device is the Galaxy A16 5G, which is in fifth place. The top four spots were taken by four iPhone 16 models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16e. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, which was available for purchase for just a couple of weeks during the quarter, secured the 10th position.
The list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones for Q3 2025 closely resembles last year’s rankings for the same timeframe. During that period, the basic iPhone 15 was the top-selling iPhone, followed by the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the standard Pro. Samsung had five devices on the list, including the base Galaxy S24 model, which ranked 10th.
<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap" data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2047318/iphone-17-android-smartphone-sales-competition-2026/" data-post-title="$799 iPhone 17 Will Be A Nightmare For Android Next Year
