Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy are used by more than a billion people

Smartphone sales are basically just a snapshot, while the number of active devices per brand also reflects mid-term trends. According to the latest survey by Counterpoint Research, the Apple iPhone has by far the largest active user base. Nearly one in four smartphones currently in use is an iPhone. Besides Apple, only Samsung surpasses a billion active users. With a market share of around 19%, roughly one in five smartphones in use is a Samsung Galaxy device.

The six largest smartphone manufacturers from China each have more than 200 million users. Xiaomi leads this group with a market share of around 12%, clearly ahead of Oppo and Vivo, which account for about 8% and 7% globally, respectively. Transsion, the parent company of Tecno and Infinix, ranks slightly ahead of Huawei and Honor. In recent years, Transsion has built a substantial customer base, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, where demand for affordable smartphones with a decent bang for the buck is high.

Motorola and Realme smartphones are used by just under 200 million people worldwide. Google barely makes it into Counterpoint Research’s rankings and, with a market share of under 1%, it trails Realme by a big margin. The upcoming Google Pixel 10a is unlikely to change that, as the mid-range smartphone is expected to offer few upgrades over the Pixel 9a (from $399 on Amazon). According to Counterpoint Research, customers are increasingly holding on to their smartphones for longer before upgrading to a new handset.