iPhone 17 Becomes Worlds Best Selling Smartphone, Galaxy S26 Ultra Ranks Fourth

The latest global smartphone sales ranking has once again put Apple at the centre of attention. The iPhone 17 has emerged as the worlds best selling smartphone in the latest Counterpoint Research ranking, moving ahead of several premium models from Apple and Samsung.

According to the ranking, the iPhone 17 captured a 6 percent share of the global smartphone market during the quarter. That is an improvement over the 4 percent share recorded by the previous generation iPhone 16 during the corresponding period last year.

The stronger showing of the standard iPhone 17 is particularly notable because Apple appears to have closed some of the gap between its regular and Pro models. One major change is the display. The iPhone 17 received a 120Hz refresh rate, replacing the 60Hz panel used on the previous standard model. The OLED display is another feature that has helped make the phone more appealing to buyers.

Apple did not stop with the top position. The company occupied five places in the latest top ten ranking. The iPhone 17 Pro Max finished second, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro in third place. The iPhone 17e secured seventh position, while the older iPhone 16 remained in the list at number ten.

Samsung was the other major force in the ranking, taking five positions overall. However, its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra could not overtake Apples leading iPhone models and ended the quarter in fourth place. The standard Galaxy S26 also made the top ten, securing ninth position.

The gap between the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26 Ultra is therefore clear in the latest ranking. While Samsung continues to maintain a strong presence in the premium smartphone market, Apple has managed to place three models in the first three positions.

Samsung also performed strongly outside its flagship range. The Galaxy A07 4G was the highest ranked mid range device, taking fifth position. The Galaxy A17 5G followed at number six, while the Galaxy A17 4G occupied eighth place.

One notable absence from the latest top ten is Xiaomi. The Chinese smartphone maker failed to secure a position in the ranking, leaving the list completely dominated by Apple and Samsung.

The broader smartphone market, however, is facing a tougher environment. Counterpoint Research has reported an 11 percent decline in the smartphone market during the quarter. Rising memory costs and increasing device prices are among the factors affecting demand and production.

The shortage of memory components is also influencing how manufacturers allocate resources. Companies are increasingly focusing on models that generate stronger returns, particularly in the premium segment. This trend could make competition between major flagship smartphones even more important in the coming quarters.

For Apple, the performance of the iPhone 17 is an encouraging sign. The standard model has managed to gain a larger share while the Pro versions have also remained highly popular. Samsung continues to have broad representation across both premium and affordable categories, but the latest ranking shows Apple holding the strongest positions at the top.