iPhone 17 named world’s best-selling smartphone for second straight quarter

The standard 17 accounted for 6% of global smartphone unit sales in the April-June period, up two percentage points from a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker released on Wednesday.

Apple swept the top three spots, with the 17 Pro Max and 17 Pro ranking second and third.

The U.S. tech giant placed five models among the world’s 10 best-selling smartphones, matching Samsung's five. Together, the top 10 models accounted for 26% of global smartphone sales, up two percentage points year-on-year and the highest share for a second quarter.

Apple's smartphone unit sales rose 5% year-on-year, with growth in India, Japan, the Middle East and Africa. Sales nearly doubled in South Korea, driven by the 17 series.

The 17e also made the global top 10, supported by demand in the U.S. and Japan and carrier promotions.

The image shows the Apple iPhone 17 Pro in blue and orange color. Photo from VnExpress/Tuan Hung

The strong performance follows Apple’s announcement in May that the 17 family had become its best-selling iPhone lineup ever. "The iPhone 17 family is now the most popular line-up in our history . . . we believe we gained market share during the quarter," Apple CFO Kevan Parekh told the Financial Times.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra was the world's best-selling Android smartphone during the quarter, accounting for more than half of Galaxy S26 series sales. Counterpoint Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi said it was the first ultra-premium Android model to lead Android sales in a second quarter.

Samsung's more affordable Galaxy A models also remained among the world's top sellers, helped by their pricing, broad availability and extended software support.

The report came as Apple announced a launch event for Sept. 9, when it is expected to unveil its newest iPhone series and potentially its long-awaited first foldable iPhone, Reuters reported.

Apple is also reportedly preparing to break with its traditional annual release cycle by splitting the 18 lineup across two launch periods. Higher-end models are expected in the event next month, while the standard 18 is expected to arrive in the first half of 2027.

The change would leave the standard 17 as Apple's latest mainstream model for several months longer than usual, potentially giving the company more room to adjust its price before the broader 18 lineup arrives, according to MacRumors.