Apple Defies Smartphone Slump as iPhone 17 Tops Q2 Sales

Rising memory chip prices have increased smartphone costs and affected global demand, but Apple has continued to strengthen its position in the market. According to a report by market research firm Counterpoint, the iPhone 17 emerged as the best-selling smartphone worldwide in the second quarter of this year. The iPhone 17 Pro Max secured the second position, while the iPhone 17 Pro ranked third. The iPhone 17e stood seventh and the iPhone 16 occupied the tenth spot, giving Apple five models in the global top 10.

Counterpoint noted that global smartphone sales declined amid higher device prices. Shipments in Europe fell by 10% year-on-year during the second quarter, while China also faced challenging market conditions. Smartphone sales in India declined by 14%. In contrast, Apple’s unit sales increased by 6% globally during the quarter, with growth reported in India, Japan, West Asia and Africa, while sales in South Korea nearly doubled. The gap between the iPhone 17 and higher-end models narrowed following upgrades, helping the device lead sales. Promotional campaigns, trade-in programmes and EMI options also supported growth in Apple’s premium smartphone segment.