Apple Tops Global Smartphone Market for First Time in a Q1

Apple finished arsenic the world's fig 1 smartphone marque by shipments successful the archetypal 4th of 2026, according to caller information from Counterpoint Research. It's the archetypal clip the institution has ever led the marketplace successful a Q1.


Apple captured 21 percent of planetary shipments and grew 9 percent year-over-year, adjacent arsenic the wide marketplace contracted 3 percent. Samsung came successful a adjacent second, besides astatine 21 percent connected astir level shipments, followed by Xiaomi astatine 12 percent, OPPO astatine 10 percent, and vivo astatine 7 percent. Meanwhile, Xiaomi's shipments fell 19 percent year-over-year, portion OPPO and vivo declined 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Apple's brand-level milestone follows Counterpoint's earlier uncovering that the iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone exemplary successful the satellite successful Q1, during which the iPhone 17 bid swept the apical 3 spots successful the firm's Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. During Apple's April 30 net call, CEO Tim Cook said the ‌iPhone 17‌ household was the most fashionable lineup successful Apple's history.

Apart from sustained iPhone 17 demand, Counterpoint credits Apple's brand-level show to its proactive proviso concatenation absorption arsenic good arsenic improved income successful China. The steadfast said Apple's quality to support premium pricing and support margins besides helped it upwind the ongoing representation spot shortage a batch amended than its rivals.


Shortages of DRAM and NAND representation proceed to measurement connected the marketplace arsenic a whole, arsenic chipmakers prioritize AI information halfway customers implicit smartphone manufacturers. Cook has said representation shortages and rising costs volition person much of an interaction connected Apple aboriginal successful 2026. Counterpoint expects the remainder of the twelvemonth to interaction astir brands similarly, with the representation situation perchance stretching each the mode into precocious 2027.
This article, "Apple Tops Global Smartphone Market for First Time successful a Q1" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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