Apple is about to set a record.

iPhone 17. Photo: The Verge .

According to data from market research firm IDC , Apple's iPhone 17 line is selling well. The company expects to sell more than 247.4 million smartphones in 2025.

Compared to the same period last year, iPhone sales this year could increase by 6.1%. High demand in China is also contributing to this success.

"Apple is expected to set a record in 2025 with sales exceeding 247 million devices, thanks to the resounding success of the latest iPhone 17 series," said Nabila Popal, Director of Research at IDC .

China is one of Apple's biggest markets. According to IDC , sales of the iPhone 17 series in October and November accounted for over 20% of the market share, far surpassing competitors. This led the analytics firm to raise its growth forecast for Apple in China in the fourth quarter from 9% to 17%.

For the whole of 2025, iPhone sales in China are expected to increase by 3% instead of decreasing by 1% as previously forecast. Slower-growing markets like the US and Western Europe could also reverse course, helping Apple achieve a new revenue record this year ( $261 billion , up 7.2%).

In October, CEO Tim Cook said Apple could set a revenue record in the next fiscal quarter (ending in December), with iPhone sales alone reaching a record high. The company estimated total revenue would increase by 10-12% compared to the same period last year.

According to MacRumors , the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro series have attracted significant user interest. Meanwhile, iPhone Air sales have not met expectations.

In 2026, Apple plans to change its iPhone launch schedule. High-end models like the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone are still expected to launch in September as planned, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be reserved for early 2027.

With this strategy, IDC predicts iPhone sales will decline by 4.2% in 2026. Global memory shortages could restrict supply and drive up smartphone prices.

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Forecast of smartphone market sales growth for the period 2024-2027. Image: IDC .

Anthony Scarsella, Director of Research at IDC , believes that manufacturers will face upward price pressure as memory components become increasingly scarce and expensive.

“Suppliers need to adopt different strategies to protect market share. While some companies will certainly have to raise prices, others can adjust their portfolios, focusing more on more expensive, higher-margin models to absorb some of the impact of memory costs on the bill of materials (BOM),” Scarsella noted.

Mid-range Android smartphone manufacturers may be more significantly impacted due to their price-sensitive segment. Total smartphone sales in 2026 could decrease by 0.9% (previously forecast to increase by 1.2%), also due to supply issues and the iPhone launch schedule.

This year alone, the market is projected to grow by 1.5% compared to last year (1.25 billion devices), mainly due to the success of the iPhone 17.