Based on Omdia's research findings, the global smartphone market is poised for a 2% year-on-year growth in shipments in 2025. This surge is projected to bring the total number of shipped units to 1.25 billion, marking the highest annual figure since 2021. The primary driving forces behind this market expansion are the demand for device replacements and upgrades.

In the fourth quarter, shipments witnessed a 4% year-on-year increase. However, escalating costs of crucial components and memory chips have cast a shadow over the growth prospects for smartphone shipments in early 2026.

Apple's iPhone shipments experienced a notable 7% year-on-year surge, reaching an all-time high of 240.6 million units. This achievement has solidified Apple's position as the world's largest smartphone vendor for the third consecutive year. Moreover, its fourth-quarter shipments also set a new benchmark.

After enduring three consecutive years of decline, Samsung witnessed a significant rebound in 2025. Its shipments grew by 7% year-on-year, a figure slightly lower than Apple's. The driving force behind this surge was Samsung's strong performance across multiple product series and its success in the low-end market, which fueled a remarkable 16% year-on-year increase in fourth-quarter shipments.