Samsung and Apple Still Growing: How Q1 2026 Went for the Smartphone Sector

The smartphone market recorded a significant decline in shipments during the first quarter of 2026, with Samsung and Apple continuing to grow, clearly defying the trend set by other brands and further increasing the gap. This confirmation comes from the new IDC report.

Results of the First Quarter of 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, a total of 289.7 million smartphones were shipped worldwide. This figure translates to a 4.1% decrease compared to the previous year's results, equating to over 12 million fewer units shipped.

Despite the decline, Samsung and Apple continue to grow, increasing the gap with their competitors.

Samsung closed the quarter with 62.8 million units shipped and a market share of 21.7%. The year-on-year growth in shipments is +3.6%, aided by the launch of the S26.
Apple also saw growth, shipping 61.1 million units of smartphones worldwide during the first quarter of 2026. In this case, the market share stands at 19.6%, with shipments increasing by +3.3%. Apple launched the iPhone 17e during the quarter.

As evident from the data in the table below, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo, which complete the Top 5, all experienced declines, with Xiaomi’s slump (-19.1%) representing the most significant outcome. The "others" category also fell by -4.2%, holding a market share of 27.7%. This category includes HONOR, Motorola, and Huawei, which, according to IDC, are reporting growth numbers, with HONOR reaching a notable +24%.