Pakistan, April 24 -- Apple has officially surpassed Samsung to become the world's top smartphone brand in the first quarter of 2025. According to Counterpoint Research, strong iPhone 15 sales and rising global demand helped Apple take the lead. This marks a major comeback for the tech giant after falling behind Samsung in recent quarters.

The global smartphone market grew by 3% year-over-year. Most of this growth came from emerging regions like Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. These areas saw better economic recovery and easier access to smartphones, especially through financing options.

A big boost came from China, where a temporary consumer subsidy in January encouraged more people to buy iPhones. Apple's focus on pr...