Finance
Global smartphone shipments rise in third-quarter on AI-driven upgrades
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Smartphone shipments rose 2.6% in Q3 2023, driven by AI and premium devices. Apple and Samsung achieved record results, with a positive outlook for 2025.
-Global smartphone shipments grew 2.6% in the third quarter this year, fueled by strong consumer demand for premium and AI-enabled devices, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation on Monday.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Demand for smartphones has been resilient despite economic uncertainty and tariff challenges, boosted by premium features, favorable pricing models and promotional trade-in deals that make the upgrading decision a "no-brainer" for most customers.
KEY QUOTE
"The smartphone industry continues its upward trajectory, posting solid growth - a remarkable achievement given persistent economic uncertainty and tumultuous tariff dynamics," said Nabila Popal, senior research director for Worldwide Client Devices, IDC.
"Demand for Apple's new iPhone 17 lineup was robust, with pre-orders surpassing those of the previous generation. At the same time, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 outperformed all earlier foldable models, creating renewed momentum for the foldables segment," said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president, Client Devices, IDC.
BY THE NUMBERS
Third-quarter shipments rose to 322.7 million units, with Apple delivering its best results ever in a three-month period ended September and Samsung achieving its strongest September-quarter growth on record, IDC said.
Samsung maintained its top spot with 61.4 million units shipped in the quarter, while Apple saw nearly 3% growth in shipments with 58.6 million.
WHAT'S NEXT
IDC said it maintains a positive outlook for the rest of 2025, projecting strong year-end sales driven by aggressive promotions, expanding AI capabilities and ongoing device innovation.
(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
A smartphone is a mobile phone that includes advanced features such as internet connectivity, a touchscreen interface, and the ability to run applications.
Premium devices are high-end smartphones that offer advanced features, superior performance, and often come with a higher price tag compared to standard models.
AI in smartphones refers to the integration of artificial intelligence technologies that enhance user experience through features like voice recognition, camera enhancements, and personalized recommendations.
A market trend is a general direction in which a market is moving, often indicated by changes in consumer behavior, sales data, or technological advancements.
A smartphone shipment refers to the number of smartphones delivered to retailers or customers within a specific time frame, often used as a measure of market performance.
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