In case you’re entrenched in tech information, you’d assume Apple was once getting ready to fall down. The corporate certainly is having a coarse proceed of all issues AI—age corporations like ChatGPT, Google, and Microsoft have collision the AI grassland working, Apple’s AI department is in disarray. Some options, like Clean Up and Writing Tools, have made their strategy to merchandise just like the iPhone, however, others (significantly Siri’s AI overhaul) are nonetheless nowhere to be noticeable.
The status is, objectively, no longer superb. Apple marketed those options along the iPhone 16 form, even casting The Extreme of Us’ Bella Ramsey in a industrial appearing off stated AI-powered Siri. (The industrial has since been deleted.) Time the residue of the tech trade appears to be solely interested in AI, Apple is, uncharacteristically, suffering to reserve up. Issues should be dire for the corporate, proper?
The iPhone continues to promote like scorching truffles
Time I’m no longer right here to learn the corporate’s complete pulse, it does appear to be the iPhone section continues to be crushing it. On Wednesday, marketplace analysis company Counterpoint released its list of the top-selling smartphones in Q1 of 2025. Possibly unsurprisingly, the iPhone crowned the listing: Apple’s iPhone 16 was once the best-selling smartphone on the earth within the first fiscal quarter of this generation, adopted via the 16 Professional Max, 16 Professional, and iPhone 15. Apple additionally had the govern 4 spots within the first quarter of 2024—again after, it was once the 15 Professional Max in first playground, adopted via the 15, 15 Professional, and 14.
Samsung took the after 3 spots, because it did in Q1 of 2024 as neatly. This generation, it was once the Galaxy A16 5G in 5th playground, adopted via the Galaxy A06 and the Galaxy S25 Extremely. The Redmi 14C 4G got here in 8th—noteceable for a smartphone that isn’t even offered within the U.S.—adopted via the Galaxy A55 5G, and, in the end, the iPhone 16 Plus.
There’s a accumulation you’ll remove from the information right here. The primary influence is that the iPhone remains to be a world pressure to be reckoned with. The iPhone had 5 of the govern 10 spots in each Q1 2024 and 2025—the one residue between the two of them was once the iPhone 15 Plus got here in 8th playground, age the 16 Plus got here in tenth. Samsung, too, is obviously nonetheless a reigning champ within the world smartphone race, even though it went from 5 telephones within the govern 10 to 4 between the ones two years—excellent for Redmi for stealing that 8th playground spot.
Ecosystems are tough issues
It’s specifically fascinating to peer the iPhone proceed carry out like this in 2025. Next all, it’s been obvious for months now that Apple didn’t apply thru on its marketed AI guarantees for the iPhone 16 form. To wit, Counterpoint says that the iPhone 16e, the corporate’s “more affordable” instrument, ranked 6th within the govern promoting smartphones of March. Community are proceeding to shop for iPhones in droves.
Is it imaginable those shoppers are purchasing iPhones in accordance with Apple’s week commercials? Positive. The corporate nonetheless advertises Apple Wisdom with each and every iPhone on its web site, so AI may nonetheless be using crowd’s needs to shop for iPhones. I’m no longer satisfied, even though. If AI had been a concern, I believe maximum shoppers could be purchasing from the firms which were rolling out AI options at a gentle clip. Samsung and Google in an instant spring to mind: Google’s latest I/O event was all about AI, and you’ll revel in quite a lot of AI options on Android units made via each corporations. Once more, possibly Samsung’s 4 “top 10” smartphones are a results of its AI efforts. It’s solely imaginable, however I proceed to be unconvinced.
I see this listing of best-selling iPhones and Galaxies, and I see something: established marketplace tendencies. I believe in fact, a accumulation of crowd like Galaxies, and much more crowd like iPhones. Community transfer telephones the entire day, particularly within the Android ecosystem, however in accordance with the information, it kind of feels like when it’s day to shop for a pristine telephone, maximum iPhone customers purchase a pristine iPhone, and maximum Galaxy customers purchase a pristine Galaxy. Ecosystems are tough issues, and whilst you’ve poured all your virtual past into one platform—together with the entire messaging, purchases, and cloud storagefacility—it’s uncommon you need to combine it up.
What do you assume up to now?
That’s me to a T: Up to I admire Android, I’m caught within the Apple ecosystem, and, as such, truly most effective believe a pristine iPhone when it comes day to improve. Virtually each and every unmarried particular person in my quick circle is identical manner. The Samsung lovers I do know additionally persist with the trend, simply with the most recent Galaxy. The verdict for me isn’t whether or not to shop for an iPhone or a Galaxy: it’s whether or not to shop for the Professional or the Professional Max.
AI keenness isn’t sturdy plenty to force smartphone gross sales
AI is with no lack of certainty the development in tech presently, and crowd are the usage of it. However I don’t assume many are making an allowance for it when purchasing their units—particularly smartphones. I believe crowd purchase the telephone they prefer, and after configure it then the reality to get entry to their AI gear. Hell, Apple built-in ChatGPT into my iPhone, and I nonetheless have the ChatGPT app. AI options will also be helpful—it’s superb that Apple has its own version of Magic Eraser now—however AI options unwanted aren’t plenty to sway shoppers en masse. If OpenAI made a smartphone, would you purchase it? I’m guessing most likely no longer.
If the AI educate continues on, possibly crowd will get started purchasing the telephones and units that ideally suited combine AI gear out of the field. Android is far forward of Apple in this entrance—just look at Google replacing its assistant with Gemini—so possibly we’ll see Galaxy telephones tug extra of a manage in world gross sales in moment quarters, and even an look from a Pixel or two. Or, possibly crowd are tremendous downloading the apps they wish to get their AI recovery, and escape alternative elements in play games when opting for a telephone to shop for.
I will’t are expecting the moment; I will most effective word what I see within the provide. And, presently, I’m ocular two issues without delay—I’m ocular a accumulation of crowd speaking about ChatGPT, and I’m ocular a accumulation of crowd purchasing and the usage of iPhones. Out of doors of my tech information circles, I’ve heard no longer a peep about Apple’s struggles within the AI race.