Best-selling smartphones of 2024: iPhone 15 series tops the list

Apple and Samsung were the only companies that made it into the top 10 best-selling smartphones of 2024, a report claims.

Apple’s iPhone 15 was the best-selling smartphone of 2024, followed by the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro, according to Counterpoint Research.

Last year, consumer preference for Pro variants increased significantly, with the premium models accounting for more than half of all iPhone sales annually for the first time.

“Attractive financing plans and trade-in offers on iPhones contributed to the premiumization trend and made the iPhone more accessible to a wider audience, particularly in emerging markets,” senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said in a press release.

Samsung also performed well, adding one more sport into the top 10 compared to 2023. Both the refreshed 5G version of its budget A15 smartphone and the 4G version were among the world’s best-selling smartphones, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra claimed the seventh spot.

Counterpoint didn’t provide the exact sales numbers in its press release.

The report notes that the Ultra was the first Galaxy S series smartphone to make it into the annual top 10 list since 2018.

Counterpoint attributes its growth rate to the Galaxy S24 being the first smartphone with GenAI capabilities, which generated significant consumer interest.

“Samsung's emphasis on these innovative features has resulted in strong market performance and a first-mover advantage. Notable features like chat/note assist, Circle to search, and live translation have gained traction and received positive reviews,” the company’s research analyst Harshit Rastogi said.

Counterpoint expects the adoption of smartphones with GenAI capabilities to rise, as manufacturers are highlighting GenAI as a key differentiator in their high-end offerings.

A survey published in December by gadgets sales platform Sell Cell revealed that the majority of iPhone and Samsung users didn't find the AI features useful.