Global smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1.25 billion units in 2025, representing a 1.5% increase compared to 2024, according to the latest International Data Corporation (IDC) report. Expectations indicate that this growth is driven by the continued success of Apple’s iPhone 17 series.
IDC expects Apple to sell more than 247 million units of the iPhone 17 series during 2025, driven by positive demand factors such as boosting sales during the holiday period, in addition to growing demand in emerging markets and China.
According to monthly China sales data from IDC, strong demand for the iPhone 17 helped it maintain the top spot for October and November respectively. Better-than-expected demand for the iPhone 17 also contributed to iOS outperforming Android and HarmonyOS in terms of year-over-year growth.
Furthermore, Apple’s strong performance helped it revise its forecast for smartphone shipments in China for 2025 from a 1% decline to 3% growth. This success was not limited to China, as data showed similar performance in the United States and Western Europe.
However, challenges remain, as IDC expects smartphone shipments to decline by 1% in 2026, as a result of rising memory component costs, which is expected to raise the average selling price of smartphones to $465.
In addition, rumors about delaying the launch of the basic iPhone 18 from fall 2026 to early 2027 may negatively impact the market outlook for 2026, resulting in a 1% decrease in phone shipments.
