Apple's iPhone 6S topped the chart among the best-selling smartphones in 2016 with approximately 60 million devices shipped. Some fantastic phones hit the market last year, but it was a phone from 2015 that proved to be the biggest hit among consumers around the world.
According to CNBC, Apple's iPhone 6S outsold the iPhone 7, Google Pixel, and Galaxy S7 in 2016, making it the world's most popular device-and by a wide margin. IHS Markit said the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus became Apple's top sellers during the holiday period, landing them at number two and three on the research firm's list, respectively.
Apple took the top four spots ahead of companies such as Samsung and Oppo. Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge was the Korean company's most popular flagship in 2016, followed by the Galaxy J3, Galaxy J5, and Galaxy S7. One has to wonder how well the Note 7 would have performed were it not for the disastrous recall.
Notably, Huawei, which is the world's third-largest smartphone maker, didn't have any phones in the top ten. Nor did Lenovo, HTC, or LG, companies that appear to be fading into the rearview compared to its larger competitors.
In addition to falling to number two as the world's top smartphone vendor, Samsung's reputation took a big hit following the Note 7 fiasco. Now, the company has to live with the fact that Apple's devices took the top four spots among the most popular handsets of 2016.
Samsung is looking to rebound with its Galaxy S8, which is scheduled to be unveiled next week. There are also rumors the company will release a Note follow-up this fall-both phones could help propel Samsung back to the top.
For now, it has the iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 6S Plus to contend with, not to mention the impending arrival of the iPhone 8. According to Mac Rumors, the government officials in India confirms that Apple will begin manufacturing iPhone devices within its Bangalore plant over the next few months, in a bid to boost the company's presence in the Indian smartphone market.