How popular isApple iPhone?
In September 2026, people searched for Apple iPhone by name about 122,000 times in New Zealand, a 76.7% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 66.5% of all New Zealand smartphone brand searches, placing Apple iPhone first out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about smartphone brands, Apple iPhone appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the nine.
Apple iPhone is the most searched of 9 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.
Apple iPhoneShare of searches 66.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Samsung GalaxyShare of searches 8.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
OPPOShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
XiaomiShare of searches 6.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
NothingShare of searches 4.5%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
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Top smartphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple iPhone was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple iPhone is the second most recommended of the nine.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Samsung Galaxy1st
- Apple iPhone2nd
Google Pixel3rd
Motorola4th- OPPO5th
- Xiaomi6th
- Nothing7th
HONOR–
vivo–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Samsung Galaxy5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Google Pixel5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple iPhone4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Motorola4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- OPPO2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Xiaomi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Nothing1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- HONOR0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- vivo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about smartphone brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which smartphone brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best smartphone brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best smartphone brand in New Zealand for everyday use?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best smartphone”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“android phone nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Which smartphone brands compete with Apple iPhone?
Share of searches by month for Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, OPPO, Xiaomi, Nothing, Motorola, Google Pixel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | OPPO | Xiaomi | Nothing | Motorola | Google Pixel | HONOR | vivo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 58.3% | 9.9% | 8.8% | 8.6% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 4% | 0.38% | 0.88% |
| Nov 2025 | 58% | 12.4% | 9.4% | 7.6% | 4.7% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 0.51% | 0.77% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.5% | 11.7% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 4.4% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 60.7% | 12.3% | 6.8% | 7.6% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.9% | 14.9% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 5% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 0.54% | 0.66% |
| Mar 2026 | 59.9% | 10% | 8.3% | 7.4% | 6.4% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 0.56% | 0.67% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.1% | 8.9% | 8.5% | 7.8% | 5.4% | 3% | 3% | 0.59% | 0.69% |
| May 2026 | 61.5% | 8.8% | 8.4% | 7.6% | 5.9% | 3.1% | 3% | 1% | 0.63% |
| Jun 2026 | 58% | 11.6% | 6.9% | 7.4% | 7.6% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 0.75% | 0.61% |
| Jul 2026 | 57.8% | 12.4% | 6.6% | 6.4% | 7.9% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 0.63% | 0.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.7% | 11.5% | 6.6% | 7.2% | 6.8% | 3.7% | 4.8% | 1.1% | 0.51% |
| Sep 2026 | 66.5% | 8.6% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 3% | 1.2% | 0.47% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 66.5% | 122K | +52.8% | +8.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 8.6% | 15.8K | -1.2% | -2.9 points | |
| 3, moved from 5th to 3rd | 6.2% | 11.4K | +24.9% | -0.4 pointsmoved from 5th to 3rd | |
| 4, moved from 3rd to 4th | 6.1% | 11.2K | +12.5% | -1.1 pointsmoved from 3rd to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 4.5% | 8.3K | -11.9% | -2.3 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 7th to 6th | 3.4% | 6.2K | +20.8% | -0.3 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 3% | 5.5K | -17.2% | -1.8 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.2% | 2.2K | +47.3% | +0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.47% | 870 | +22.5% | 0 points |
66.5%
Held 1st. 122K estimated branded searches, +52.8% vs prior month. Share +8.8 points.
8.6%
Held 2nd. 15.8K estimated branded searches, -1.2% vs prior month. Share -2.9 points.
3.
OPPO6.2%
Moved from 5th to 3rd. 11.4K estimated branded searches, +24.9% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
4.
Xiaomi6.1%
Moved from 3rd to 4th. 11.2K estimated branded searches, +12.5% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
5.
Nothing4.5%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 8.3K estimated branded searches, -11.9% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
6.
Motorola3.4%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 6.2K estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
3%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 5.5K estimated branded searches, -17.2% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
8.
HONOR1.2%
Held 8th. 2.2K estimated branded searches, +47.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
9.
vivo0.47%
Held 9th. 870 estimated branded searches, +22.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Apple iPhone and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Apple iPhone
8 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Apple iPhone changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apple iPhone in New Zealand rose from 69K to 122K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple iPhone’s share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand increased from 58.3% to 66.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple iPhone’s share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand peaked at 66.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 57.7% in August 2026.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand smartphone brands in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Apple iPhone gained share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand, from 57.7% to 66.5%.
In September 2026, Samsung Galaxy lost share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand, from 11.5% to 8.6%.
In September 2026, Nothing lost share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand, from 6.8% to 4.5%.
In September 2026, Google Pixel lost share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand, from 4.8% to 3%.
In September 2026, Xiaomi lost share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand, from 7.2% to 6.1%.
OPPO’s share of searches among smartphone brands in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 6.9% to 6.2% in September 2026.
How are Apple iPhone’s branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple iPhone’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- find my iphone
- iphone
- iphone fold
- iphone se
- iphone xr
- latest iphone
Who owns Apple iPhone?
Apple iPhone is owned by Apple. Brandwave also tracks Apple AirPods, Apple AirTag, Apple Health Cycle Tracking, Apple iPad, Apple MacBook, Apple MagSafe, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Photos / Google Photos, Apple Podcasts, Apple Reminders, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, Final Cut Pro, Find My, GarageBand, 
iCloud, iMovie, Keynote, Logic Pro and Safari, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.
Do you work for Apple iPhone? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Is Apple iPhone your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.