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[BUSINESS] · Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia · 76 sources

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Apple and Samsung dominate global smartphone market in Q2 2026

According to Counterpoint Research, the global smartphone market experienced an 11% year-on-year contraction in the second quarter of 2026. Despite this decline, Apple and Samsung maintained a dominant position, collectively accounting for 26% of global unit sales and occupying all ten of the top-selling smartphone spots.

The iPhone 17 emerged as the world's best-selling smartphone, capturing 6% of the global market. Apple's unit sales grew by 5% year-on-year, driven by strong performance in India, Japan, the Middle East, Africa, and a near-doubling of sales in South Korea. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max followed as the second and third best-selling models, respectively.

Samsung also secured five positions in the top ten, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra becoming the best-selling Android smartphone. The company's presence in the rankings was bolstered by its Galaxy A series. The industry-wide contraction and a global shortage of RAM have led manufacturers to focus more heavily on premium models and high-volume devices to protect margins.

In Europe, Apple and Samsung each hold a 34% market share, collectively controlling 68% of the market. This comes amid a significant 10% decline in European smartphone shipments compared to the previous year.

Entities

Apple · Counterpoint Research · Galaxy S26 Ultra · Galaxy S26 Ultra · Google · Samsung · Xiaomi · iPhone 17 · iPhone 17

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