According to a recent report by Counterpoint, the top-selling phone models of 2023 have been dominated by iPhones, with the top seven spots all taken by various iPhone models. This marks the first time that all top seven spots have been occupied by iPhones, indicating Apple’s strong performance in the smartphone market.
The top three spots were secured by the iPhone 14 models, with the base model emerging as the best-selling phone of the year. Despite being released later in September 2023, the iPhone 15 models quickly claimed spots 5, 6, and 7 within just three months of sales. The iPhone 13, positioned at No. 4, also made it to the list, reflecting the demand for the more affordable modern-looking iPhone offered by Apple.
However, the iPhone SE, known for its more dated design and smaller size, failed to make the list this year, hinting at a potential decline in consumer interest. Speculations suggest that Apple may not produce another SE model, further underlining the shift in consumer preferences towards larger and more modern smartphone designs.
On the other hand, Samsung’s presence in the top-selling list was limited to the bottom three spots, all occupied by relatively lesser-known budget devices. Despite Samsung’s extensive range of smartphones, its budget-friendly models, such as the Galaxy A14 5G, Galaxy A04e, and Galaxy A14 4G, were the only ones to secure spots in the top 10. The abundance of budget devices from Samsung, often available at discounted prices or as part of prepaid plans, makes it challenging for the brand to stand out in the market.
Comparatively, Apple’s focused approach to releasing a smaller number of models seems to have contributed to its success in the sales rankings. While Apple introduced 13 phones between 2021 and 2023, Samsung released a staggering 89 different models during the same period, highlighting the contrast in their respective strategies and product offerings.
The dominance of iPhones in the top-selling phone models of 2023 underscores Apple’s strong position in the global smartphone market, with its diverse range of models catering to varying consumer preferences.
