Leading smartphone market share South Korea 2025, by model

As of January 2025, Apple was leading the South Korean smartphone market with the iPhone 16 Pro accounting for around 10 percent of all smartphones sold in that month, according to Counterpoint Research. This was followed by the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Launched in September 2024, various versions of the iPhone 16 were popular in the country that month.

Rapid growth in 5G smartphones in South Korea

In recent years, smartphone adoption in South Korea had seen a remarkable surge, with ownership becoming nearly universal compared to a relatively modest rate in the early 2010s. Among the various smartphone types, 5G models had gained the largest market share, showing a shift towards faster and more advanced mobile networks. 5G, or fifth-generation mobile communication, significantly increases internet speeds, allows more devices to connect simultaneously, and reduces latency for smoother app usage and streaming. Among these users, SK Telecom had significantly more 5G subscribers compared to other providers.

Global smartphone market led by Apple and Samsung

Apple and Samsung are two of the largest players in the global smartphone market, consistently ranking among the top vendors alongside competitors like Xiaomi. Apple typically saw stronger performance in later parts of the year, while Samsung tended to gain momentum earlier in the year. This difference was largely influenced by the timing of their product launches, which could shift market share depending on when the data was collected. Together, the performance of these brands reflected broader trends in consumer demand and ongoing developments in the global smartphone industry.