The iPhone 17 ignites a wave of upgrades, and Apple's smartphone shipments in 2025 are expected to reach a record high

Research firm IDC's latest forecast shows that driven by the strong performance of the iPhone 17 series and the recovery of the key Chinese market, Apple Inc. is expected to achieve a record high in iPhone shipments in 2025, surpassing the record set in 2021.

According to the report released by IDC on Tuesday, Apple is expected to ship 247.4 million iPhones this year, a year-on-year increase of over 6%. This figure will exceed the 236 million units shipped by the iPhone 13 series in 2021, demonstrating strong growth momentum.

Nabila Popal, IDC's senior research director, noted in a statement that the surge in Apple's shipments is "attributed to the tremendous success of its latest iPhone 17 series." She also emphasized that in the Chinese market, "the huge demand for the iPhone 17 has significantly boosted Apple's performance," which has become a key factor driving the growth of Apple's global shipments.

This optimistic forecast is significant for Apple. Before the report was released, Apple was facing fierce competition from other smartphone brands and skepticism about its artificial intelligence strategy. The successful launch of the iPhone 17 is seen by investors as a key to turning the tide, and the latest shipment data proves its market appeal.

iPhone 17 Lives Up to Expectations, Demand Recovery in China Becomes Key Engine

The strong recovery of the Chinese market is the core driving force supporting Apple's performance expectations. IDC's data shows that Apple's shipments in China are expected to grow by 17% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, an astonishing growth rate. This strong performance has prompted the research firm to revise its overall forecast for the Chinese smartphone market for the year to a growth of 3%.

Since its launch in September this year, the market performance of the iPhone 17 series has been closely watched by investors. At that time, Apple's artificial intelligence strategy was scrutinized compared to some Android counterparts, leading to high expectations for the new model. IDC's report confirms that the iPhone 17 series has not disappointed the market.

IDC's optimistic outlook is not an isolated case but resonates with the views of other market research firms. According to media reports last week, another research company, Counterpoint Research, predicts that Apple is expected to surpass Samsung in 2025, becoming the largest smartphone manufacturer in terms of global shipments for the first time in 14 years.

It is worth noting that the term "shipments" used by analysts refers to the number of devices sent by suppliers to their e-commerce partners or physical retail channels. Although this data is not entirely equivalent to direct end sales, it is regarded as a key leading indicator reflecting the company's expectations for product demand. Multiple institutions are optimistic, indicating that Apple is entering a new growth cycle