- iPhone 17 turned the top-selling smartphone in Q1 2026.
- Upgrades like 120Hz show and 256GB storage drove gross sales.
- Samsung’s A-series and different iPhones crammed high 10 spots.
The bottom iPhone is again on high. Apple’s iPhone 17 has claimed the title of the world’s best-selling smartphone within the first quarter of 2026, overtaking the iPhone 17 Professional Max, which had held the highest spot only a quarter earlier than. The shift marks a notable change in shopper choice, with extra patrons choosing the usual mannequin over the premium one.
The iPhone 17 captured round 6% of all international smartphone models offered in Q1 2026, whereas the Professional Max and Professional variants adopted in second and third place, respectively. In This fall 2025, the Professional Max had led with 5% of world telephone gross sales.
Why Did The iPhone 17 Outsell The Professional Max?
The report from Counterpoint Analysis’s International Handset Mannequin Gross sales Tracker factors to significant {hardware} upgrades Apple launched to the bottom iPhone 17 in September final yr.
These embody a 120Hz refresh charge show and a better base storage of 256GB, up from 128GB on the iPhone 16. These additions introduced the usual mannequin nearer to its Professional counterparts when it comes to options, making it a extra engaging possibility for a wider vary of patrons.
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Senior Counterpoint analyst Harshit Rastogi famous, “iPhone 17 continues to outperform its predecessor owing to key upgrades like larger base storage, digital camera decision, show refresh charge, bringing the smartphone nearer to the Professional variants and offering general worth for a bigger market.”
He added, “The smartphone registered double-digit YoY development in key markets like China, the US and 3x in South Korea for the quarter. Apple iPhone 17 Professional Max and Professional captured the next two spots, providing much more superior capabilities throughout digital camera, battery and new color, materials and end.”
Which Different Telephones Made It To The International Prime 10?
5 Samsung Galaxy A sequence fashions featured within the high 10 record: the Galaxy A07, A56, A36, A17 5G, and A17 4G. The report credit their sturdy efficiency to demand from rising markets such because the Center East, Africa, and Latin America, in addition to Samsung’s dedication to 6 years of OS updates.
Apple’s iPhone 16 held its floor at sixth place, whereas Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Extremely narrowly missed the highest 10, regardless of recording stronger early gross sales than its predecessor, pushed by its privateness show and new AI options.
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Xiaomi’s Redmi A5 rounded out the record at tenth place, with the report citing sustained demand since its launch throughout rising markets.
Total, the highest 10 smartphones in Q1 2026 accounted for 25% of all international unit gross sales, which Counterpoint described as the very best Q1 focus ever recorded.
