🔥 Global Smartphone Market Recovers: IDC Q3 2025 Report Crowns Samsung, Xiaomi Holds Strong Third Place
Shipments rise 2.6% YoY, driven by AI and premium upgrades.
📈 Market Rebound Summary
According to a recent report from **IDC**, global smartphone shipments totaled **322.7 million units** in the third quarter of 2025, up **2.6% year-on-year**. The gradual recovery of the smartphone market has been further strengthened by the growing demand for AI-enabled smartphones and dynamically innovative hardware designs, which have encouraged consumers to upgrade their devices. Global leaders such as **Samsung**, **Apple** and **Xiaomi** have once again topped the global charts, demonstrating impressive performances in various sectors.
🌍 Global Smartphone Market Overview
In the third quarter of 2025, Samsung took the top spot with 61.4 million units sold, representing a 19% global market share, representing a 6.3% year-on-year growth. Apple came in second with 58.6 million units sold and an 18.2% market share, achieving a 2.9% year-on-year growth.
🏆 Top 5 Global Smartphone Vendors
Xiaomi solidified its position at number three with impressive growth figures.
🇨🇳 Chinese Market Trends
The top five Chinese home market suppliers for the quarter were Vivo, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo/Honor (in fifth place). But overall Chinese smartphone shipments fell **0.6% year-on-year**, indicating that domestic demand is slowing. This quarter is a traditional low season for the smartphone market as the number of new models is low and government subsidy policies have become more stringent. In addition to all this, several leading companies, such as Xiaomi, have pre-launched their flagships a little earlier than before, for example, in mid-to-late September, hoping to boost market performance early next month.
🚀 Xiaomi's Strategic Plan
Xiaomi's stable growth indicates the success of its model of **premium design, integration of AI and optimization of HyperOS** in its products. It has been able to strike a balance between premium experience and competitive pricing, which has helped it expand globally, especially in Europe, India and Southeast Asia. As the brand expands into AI-based technology, smart home integration, and global markets, Xiaomi's influence in the smartphone space will continue to grow in 2026.
