Global smartphone shipments declined 6% YoY in Q1 2026, as DRAM and NAND shortages disrupted supplies and increased costs across OEMs, while consumer sentiment remained weak amid Middle East tensions.Apple led Q1 for the first time with 21% market share, growing 5% YoY, driven by strong iPhone 17 demand, proactive supply chain management amid memory constraints, and improved performance in China.Samsung’s shipments declined 6% YoY in Q1 2026 with 20% market share, due to the delayed Galaxy S26 launch and weakness in the entry-tier segment.Beyond the top five brands, Google and Nothing grew 14% YoY and 25% YoY, respectively, driven by expanding channel presence, strong model traction, and clear niche differentiation.Seoul, Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo – April 10, 2026
Makes sense. Apple’s customers are a lot less price-sensitive. And also, memory and storage are naturally a much larger part is the price in a $150 smartphone than in a $1000 one. Apple doesn’t do the $150 class at all.
You see that kind of smartphone a lot here in Spain where purchasing power is a lot lower than in the US. Still a lot of people using things like wired headphones too.