Apple’s newest iPhone will always top the list of the world’s best-selling smartphones. It seems nothing can shake this apparent “truth.”
But if we look at Counterpoint Research’s latest report on the top-selling phone models for this quarter, we’ll be surprised to see some devices with unusually high rankings in the top 10.
Samsung’s $4 Million Phone Threatens iPhone 15
Looking at the rankings, it’s no surprise that the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes in second after the iPhone 15. But Samsung’s little-known, affordable Galaxy A15 5G (just over $4 million) ranks fourth in global sales for Q2 2024 – and the Galaxy A15 4G ranks fifth. That’s unexpected.
Combining the market share of both A15 versions (5G and 4G) gives us 3.8%. While this may not seem significant in the mobile industry’s landscape painting, the reality is that even the market-leading iPhone 15 only does slightly better at 4.1%.
When compared to other models, the Galaxy A15 5G and 4G LTE duo outperforms the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro, not to mention the iPhone 15 Plus, which is notably absent from the list of the world’s top 10 best-selling phones.
Apple once again dominates the global podium, but the threat from Samsung’s affordable segment is significant.
Top 10 best-selling phones in Q2 2024 compared to 2023.
Compared to last year’s Galaxy A14 4G and A14 5G, Samsung’s new affordable models are clearly more popular. But this isn’t necessarily good news for Samsung, nor does it reflect a breakthrough performance for the Galaxy A15 5G.
This is because the higher-end members of the Galaxy A series are struggling this year. The Galaxy A55 is proving less successful than its predecessor, the A54, which isn’t good for the manufacturer’s overall profits.
Meanwhile, this year’s premium Galaxy S24 Ultra seems to be selling on par with (or slightly less than) the S23 Ultra, while also ranking one spot lower due to the surprising growth of the low-end Redmi 13C 4G.
Despite high expectations, the S24 Ultra can’t match the popularity of the iPhone 15, 15 Pro Max, 15 Pro, or even the iPhone 14 – a model that sold far fewer units than the iPhone 13 in last year’s rankings.
Where is the iPhone 15 Selling the Most?
The answer is simple: iPhones sell well everywhere. But according to a recent Kantar report, there’s a large country where the world’s best-selling smartphones are all overshadowed by the Galaxy A15.
We’re talking about France, which currently presents a contrasting picture to the other top five European markets, where the iPhone 15, with its dual-camera system, reigns supreme.
Aside from Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, the non-Pro and non-Plus models of Apple also took the gold in China, while Australia featured a full house of iPhone 15 models.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands taller (both literally and figuratively) than all other smartphones in the US, while the outdated iPhone 14 surprisingly claimed the top spot in Japan, dethroning the iPhone 15 and… iPhone SE (2022).
Japan has always been considered a unique market, where “Google Pixel” beats both the premium Galaxy S series and the affordable Galaxy A series from Samsung to become the “best-selling Android smartphone.”
In other sad news, Android is no longer the dominant platform in the US, which is surely disappointing for Samsung, Motorola, and, of course, Google.
Interestingly, Asus has quietly become the fifth most popular smartphone brand in the US, largely thanks to its eye-catching yet expensive ROG Phone gaming phone lineup.
