India, Nov. 26 -- Samsung's long reign as the world's largest smartphone maker could soon come to an end. A new report by Counterpoint Research suggests that Apple is on track to overtake Samsung in 2025, powered by exceptional demand for the iPhone 17 series and a global upgrade cycle that is now kicking into high gear.

According to the analysis, cited by Bloomberg, Apple is expected to post a 10% year-over-year increase in iPhone shipments next year. Samsung, in comparison, is forecast to grow by 4.6%, not enough to hold onto its market lead. If projections hold, Apple will finish 2025 with a 19.4% global market share, reclaiming the No. 1 spot it briefly held in 2023.

The report comes after a series of strong indicators for Apple. In...