Apple tipped for record iPhone shipments in 2025 as iPhone 17 demand surges

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple looks set to hit an all-time high for iPhone shipments in 2025, buoyed by the performance of its latest iPhone 17 series and a clear turnaround in China. Fresh figures from IDC suggest Apple will ship 247.4 million units next year, which works out to a little over 6 percent year-on-year growth. It also surpasses the previous peak set in 2021 during the iPhone 13 cycle, when the company shipped 236 million units.

IDC’s senior research director Nabila Popal called the iPhone 17 series a “phenomenal success”, noting that demand in China has been particularly strong. That surge has helped correct the narrative around Apple, which had been under pressure from intensifying competition and questions about its AI roadmap, even as Android rivals shifted aggressively into on-device intelligence.

Analysts track shipments as an indicator of a company’s confidence in upcoming demand. While they are not the same as sales, they reveal how many devices Apple is pushing into its retail and online channels.

According to IDC, Apple’s China shipments are set to grow 17 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter. The research firm now expects the Chinese smartphone market to grow 3 percent in 2025 after previously predicting a slight decline. The momentum comes despite Apple facing renewed heat from Huawei, which has been clawing back premium market share.

IDC’s outlook aligns with Counterpoint Research, which recently said Apple could overtake Samsung in total global smartphone shipments in 2025 for the first time in 14 years.

However, the picture beyond 2025 looks less certain. Bloomberg has reported that Apple may delay the base iPhone 18 model to 2027, potentially breaking the company’s long-maintained annual autumn release rhythm. IDC warns that such a shift could cause Apple’s shipments to decline by about 4.2 percent next year.

For now, though, Apple appears to be heading into 2025 with strong demand, a revitalised flagship series and renewed traction in its most important international market.