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Global Smartphone Shipments Rose 1.5% Year-over-Year in Q1 2025, with Samsung and Apple Maintaining Top Spots, IDC Reports

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The global smartphone market began 2025 on a strong note, with shipments increasing by 1.5% year-over-year (YoY) in the first quarter, according to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC). Total shipments reached 304.9 million units, marking a positive start for the year. Samsung and Apple retained their positions as the top two players in the market, with Samsung continuing to lead the pack, followed by Apple. While Apple’s performance reached new heights with its best Q1 shipment numbers ever, the company faced a decline in China, an important market for its products.

Samsung maintained its leadership with a 19.9% market share, shipping 60.6 million units. The company’s strong performance was driven by the success of its Galaxy S25 series, as well as the popular Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 models. IDC’s report indicates that Samsung’s strategic focus on its flagship and mid-range smartphones helped it achieve significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, despite the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

Apple also saw impressive results, recording 57.9 million units shipped and grabbing 19.0% of the market share. The company enjoyed a 10% YoY growth compared to Q1 2024, though its performance in China saw a decline. This was due, in part, to the exclusion of iPhone Pro models from the Chinese government’s subsidy program, which affected its overall sales in the region. Despite this, Apple’s performance globally was stellar, marking its best first quarter ever in terms of units shipped.

Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone brands continue to hold strong positions, with Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo securing spots in the top five. Xiaomi, in third place, saw a 2.5% increase in shipments, moving 41.8 million units and benefiting from government subsidies in China. Oppo, holding fourth place, saw its market share at 7.7%, though its international shipments dropped. Vivo rounded out the top five with 7.4% market share, driven by strong demand for affordable devices and its V series smartphones, which performed well in emerging markets.

Leaked Samsung One UI 8 Build Hints at Early Design Tweaks, ‘Now Brief’ Feature Could Expand to Older Galaxy Models

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Even as Samsung begins rolling out One UI 7 globally, work on its next major software update, One UI 8, is reportedly already underway. Although the Android 16-based operating system is still some time from an official launch, a recent leak has offered a first look at its early design and potential features. According to reports, Samsung appears to be making subtle visual changes to some of its core apps, including the File Manager and Gallery. Additionally, the company may be planning to bring an AI-driven feature, first introduced with the Galaxy S25 series, to older Galaxy devices.

The leak, shared by SmartPrix, revealed One UI 8 running on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 prototype. At first glance, the new OS strongly resembles One UI 7, suggesting that Samsung’s major visual redesigns were likely completed with the previous update. This indicates that One UI 8 may focus more on refining the user experience rather than dramatically overhauling the interface. The early build hints at an evolution rather than a revolution in Samsung’s software design strategy.

Among the minor but notable changes are tweaks to the File Manager and Gallery apps. The File Manager’s Categories tab now features a translucent background, lending it a sleeker and more modern look. A similar refresh can be seen in the Gallery app, where categories like Videos, Favourites, Recents, Locations, and Shared Albums also appear against a translucent backdrop. However, given that this is an early version of the OS, Samsung may introduce further refinements — or completely redesign certain elements — before the final release.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the potential arrival of the ‘Now Brief’ feature on a wider range of devices. Originally exclusive to the Galaxy S25 series, Now Brief utilizes Galaxy AI to summarize daily activities and device usage into an easy-to-read, card-style interface. When paired with wearables like the Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, it can even incorporate health and fitness metrics. If the leaks are accurate, this feature could soon make its way to more users, enhancing the everyday experience across Samsung’s device ecosystem.

Samsung Kicks Off Global Launch of Good Lock App for Galaxy Devices

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Samsung has begun the global rollout of its Good Lock app, a popular customization suite for Galaxy devices. Initially available only in around 40 countries, the app is now accessible to users in Romania, marking the beginning of a wider availability. This move comes after months of anticipation and multiple leaks, with Samsung officially confirming the global expansion in January. As part of the rollout, users in Romania can now download the app on their Galaxy devices to take advantage of its diverse customization and personalization options.

According to a report from SamMobile, the Good Lock app is now available for download in Romania, where it had not been offered previously. While Samsung had previously announced that the app would be accessible via both the Galaxy Store and Google Play Store, the current rollout seems to be limited to the Galaxy Store in Romania. This suggests that the company is still fine-tuning the app’s global availability before it becomes fully accessible through other channels.

The Good Lock app is designed to give Galaxy smartphone users greater control over the look and feel of their devices. It offers 23 different modules that allow users to customize everything from lock screens and always-on displays to navigation bar settings and swipe gestures. One of the standout features is the ability to create dynamic backgrounds that shift as the phone moves, offering a more personalized experience. The app is compatible with both Galaxy A and Galaxy S series phones, making it a versatile tool for a wide range of Samsung users.

This global rollout of the Good Lock app aligns with Samsung’s broader plans to expand the availability of its One UI 7 update, which is also reaching more devices and regions. Although the app is compatible with Android 15-based OS, its full global availability is still ongoing, and future updates are expected to extend the app’s reach to additional markets. With this expansion, Samsung continues to enhance the customization experience for Galaxy users worldwide, giving them even more ways to tailor their smartphones to suit their personal preferences.