The mobile phone business is an incredibly competitive one, in which even the most popular cell phones can change drastically over a very short period of time. One need only look to a company like BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)(formerly Research in Motion), which was the early dominant force in the smartphone industry, and now just a few years later has become an afterthought, without a single model of their devices in our top ten of the most popular cell phones.
Although there appears to be a new phone appearing virtually every day, there are models which do appear to be standing the test of time better than BlackBerry has, and have built up a loyal following that for the most part carries on with each new model of the series. And yes, we are talking about the ultra popular Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. The two rivals manage to achieve greater sales with each new version of their phone, even as the market has become nearly completely saturated and smartphone adoption in developed countries is incredibly high.
Which other phones do consumers lean towards? Today, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top ten most popular cell phones in the world. If you’re into mobile phone coverage, we also suggest you take a look at our feature on the Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the Market. But for the time being, let’s focus on the most popular choices when it comes to mobile phones.
Note that only the top selling unit of each brand is considered, so one brand does not dominate the list, with the exception of the Xperia Z1 Compact, which we felt deserved its own place alongside the Xperia 2. Also, while the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have achieved great sales numbers, they have not yet been enough to earn a place on the list. They will likely surpass the iPhone 5 in time, but for now, it still rules the iPhone roost.
Does it rule the entire smartphone world as well? Read our countdown of the most popular cell phones in the world to find out!
No. 10: Nokia Lumia
The Nokia Lumia might be a somewhat massive cell phone, but it does offer something that other devices cannot: it has the best and most proficient camera in a smartphone currently available on the market.
No. 9: Motorola Moto G
Even though over the past years, Motorola kind of fell to the back of the wagon in terms of mobile phone manufacturing, the company registered a major comeback with the release of its Moto G model, which placed on our countdown of the most popular cell phones.
No. 8: Samsung Galaxy Note 3
While there’s still a debate running whether the Galaxy Note should be considered a phone or a tablet, most users seem to buy the device for the former reason, justifying its appearance on our countdown of the most popular cell phones.
No. 7: Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Even though the Z2 has already been released, the Z1 compact still makes an appearance on our countdown. The feature that most consumers seem to appreciate about this model? The fact that it offers great quality and functionality without an over-the-top screen size.
No. 6: Google Nexus 5
While it did take some time for Google to actually release a phone that would please consumers, it finally did it with the Nexus 5. What’s more, this device even helped put Google on the map of mobile manufacturers, gaining it a spot in our countdown of the most popular cell phones.
No. 5: Sony Xperia Z2
Even though the Z2 model doesn’t feature a whole lot of improvements and upgrades compared to its predecessor, the Z1, you can’t really deny that it is one of the best phones on the market. And one of the most popular cell phones in the world as well. With great battery life, screen resolution, and sound, the Z2 enchanted consumers right away.
No. 4: LG G2
Prior to releasing their G2 model, LG was rather confident about their design and didn’t shy away from boasting about it. Apparently, they had good reasons to do so, as the G2 rapidly emerged as one of the most popular cell phones on the market.
No. 3: HTC One (M8)
Thus far, HTC is one of the few mobile phone manufacturers that has been able to release a device that rivals titans such as Apple and Samsung. Thanks to its solid features, sleek design, and state-of-the art functionality, the HTC One has gathered quite the fan base.
No. 2: Samsung Galaxy S5
The S5 quickly gained a reputation as one of the most feature-packed smartphones available on the market after its release. Even though it still hasn’t managed to beat our leader in the countdown of the most popular cell phones, the Samsung Galaxy S5 remains a favorite for many tech users.
No. 1: iPhone 5s
Apple iPhone 5S was undoubtedly a big hit amongst consumers and remains the undisputed leader of our countdown of the most popular cell phones, despite its somewhat hefty price tag at launch. As we’ve seen with the even more expensive iPhone 6 Plus however, price is no obstacle when it comes to Apple fans getting their iPhone fix.
