According to Counterpoint Research’s global monthly handset model sales tracker, Apple has secured eight spots in the global top 10 smartphones list for 2022. Samsung captured the remaining two spots on the list.
The top 10 smartphones contributed to 19% of total global smartphone sales in 2022. Apple launched the iPhone SE (third-generation) and iPhone 14 series in 2022, in addition to retailing the iPhone 13. Apple’s most popular model was the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, while the high-end iPhone 13 Pro Max secured the second spot on the list.
Apple’s iPhone 13 was the best-selling smartphone of 2022, contributing 28% of iPhone sales. It was the best-selling smartphone in major markets such as China, the US, the UK, Germany, and France.
The iPhone 13 remained the number one smartphone each month from its launch in September 2021 till August 2022. Price cuts after the iPhone 14 series’ launch further drove the iPhone 13 volumes in developing markets. The iPhone 13 sales were two times more than that of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the second best-selling smartphone in 2022.
Advanced features on the iPhone 14 Pro Max like the A16 Bionic chip, Always-On display, Dynamic Island, and others made it the top-selling smartphone model for September, October, and November of 2022. Surprisingly, the iPhone 12 and iPhone SE 3 also made it onto the list. The iPhone 12 captured the sixth spot, popular in the US, China, and Japan, and the iPhone SE 3 secured the ninth spot due to good sales in Japan.
The iPhone 12, the best-selling smartphone of 2021, was the oldest model in the top 10 for 2022. Its sales remained robust in the US, Japan, and China. The price cuts with each year’s new iPhone launch increased its value proposition, while its 5G capability also played an important role.
Apple continues to dominate the smartphone industry, with its iPhone models taking up a majority of the global top 10 smartphones list in 2022. The company’s constant innovation, combined with affordable pricing and value propositions, continues to appeal to customers worldwide.