Apple’s iPhone 17 series is the top-selling smartphone worldwide in the first quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, as cited by both outlets. Counterpoint data show the base iPhone 17 takes the top position, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max listed second and the iPhone 17 Pro third. The previous-generation iPhone 16 also appears on the list in sixth place, indicating continued demand beyond the newest model.
Counterpoint analyst Harshit Rastogi attributes iPhone 17’s performance to upgrades that narrow the gap between the base and Pro models. These include higher starting storage (256GB for the base model), improved camera features, and a faster 120Hz display refresh rate. The iPhone 17 records double-digit year-over-year growth in China and the U.S., and sales triple in South Korea for the quarter.
Beyond Apple’s share, Samsung’s Galaxy A lineup fills the remaining top spots. A budget Galaxy A model, the Galaxy A07 4G, is identified as the best-selling Android phone in the quarter. Xiaomi’s Redmi A5 is listed in tenth place. Overall, the top 10 devices account for 25% of global smartphone sales, the highest first-quarter concentration figure Counterpoint reports.
