Sales Record Expected for New iPhone 17 Boosting Smartphone Shipments in 2025

By Sebastian Mendoza Dec 15, 2025

Smartphone shipments in 2025 set to rise 1.5%, mainly due to intense demand for Apple's newest iPhone 17 series.

A recent study is predicting a 1.5% overall increase in global smartphone shipments by 2025. Much of this surge is attributed to Apple's stellar performance with its iPhone 17 range. This forecast was updated from a previous projection of a 1% increase by International Data Corporation (IDC), a renowned provider of technology data.

The reports indicate an enormous demand for Apple's latest iPhone, particularly during the festive season. This demand is expected to expedite Apple’s overall performance, enabling the company to ship over 247 million iPhones in 2025, marking a significant 6.1% increase, setting a new company record.

This projection is primarily due to the "massive demand" for the iPhone 17 in China, boosting Apple's sales figures. The company's performance remains a consistent highlight in the smartphone market, particularly in China. IDC's predictions are generally used as a standard for device manufacturers and investors to gauge the industry momentum.

However, despite the positive outlook for 2025, the report indicated that this growth is unlikely to continue into 2026. The forecast for 2026 has been reduced to 0.9% from the previously predicted 1.2%, due to challenges such as memory chip shortages and adjustments in product cycles.

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