The popularity of the iPhone 17 lineup saw Apple almost match Samsung’s market share for the third quarter of the year, according to new IDC data.
The firm describes it as “a remarkable achievement,” attributing the ability to sell even more premium phones in a challenging economy to a combination of three factors …
CNET reports IDC estimating Apple’s market share in Q3 as 18.2%, almost matching that of Samsung’s 19%.
Preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16 […] Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024 […] Samsung still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.
IDC says that continuing innovation in both hardware and software are part of the reason for the continued sales success of both premium iPhones and folding phones, but finance schemes like the iPhone Upgrade Program and trade-in deals also play an important role.
It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000. “[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,” Popal said
The company says that so far the impact of tariffs doesn’t seem to be biting too hard, though we of course don’t know how strong demand would have been without them.
Highlighted accessories