New Delhi, May 5 -- The base iPhone has reclaimed its throne, with the iPhone 17 taking over the reins in leading sales numbers from its elder sibling, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. According to the latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker by Counterpoint Research, the standard Apple iPhone 17 was the world's best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2026, officially dethroning the pricier Pro Max model.

The report notes that the iPhone 17 captured around 6% of all global units, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro followed closely behind in second and third place, respectively. Notably, just a month ago, Counterpoint had released its data for Q4 2025, where the iPhone 17 Pro Max was the highest-selling phone, capturing 5% of al...