Samsung led global smartphone shipments in the latest reported quarter, Q2 2026, while Apple narrowly led for full-year 2025. The answer changes with the period and with what “sells” means: shipment estimates measure phones moving into distribution, not necessarily purchases at checkout.
What does “sells more phones” mean?
For company rankings, the most available comparable measure is usually smartphone shipments: devices sent into the market through carriers, retailers, or distributors. Counterpoint describes its Q2 2026 figures as sell-in shipment share, not audited consumer purchases. IDC describes its figures as shipments of new branded devices and excludes refurbished units. Counterpoint’s Q2 2026 results and IDC’s smartphone data and methodology use these shipment-based measures.
- Sell-in: A phone moves from a manufacturer to a distributor, retailer, or carrier.
- Sell-through: A phone is purchased by a consumer.
- Revenue and profit: Money generated and retained after costs; neither is the same as unit volume.
- Installed base: Devices currently in use, which reflects past sales as well as replacements.
- Market share: Check the stated measure. It may refer to shipments, revenue, or active devices.
Because Apple and Samsung do not consistently publish directly comparable global consumer unit-sales totals, shipment estimates are the clearest available basis for this comparison.
Who led the latest quarter?
Samsung led Q2 2026 global sell-in shipments. Counterpoint’s preliminary estimate put Samsung at 24% of global shipment share and Apple at 20%. It also estimated that total smartphone shipments fell 11% year over year, while Apple shipments rose 3% year over year. These are preliminary shipment estimates, not a count of phones consumers bought at checkout. Counterpoint’s Q2 2026 analysis attributes Samsung’s strength to availability, pricing and promotions, including performance in India and the Middle East.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- International Model in the USA Market is Compatible with Tmobile, AT&T and Verizon. Carrier compatibility may vary, IMEI activation required for Metro, Mint. Unlocked Worldwide GSM 4G LTE PHONE.
- No USA Warranty. This is a Latin American Model with 1 Year Warranty in Latin America, & Caribbean, Check the model in your Phone SM-A075M/DS, if the model is different there is no Local Warranty in Latin America. Charger NOT Included.
- SIM Configuration: SIM 1 + SIM 2 + MicroSD/--/4G FDD LTE B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B20(800), B28(700), B66(AWS-3) 4G TDD LTE B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500) - 3G UMTS B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900) - 2G Quad Band
- Size (Main_Display) 171.3mm (6.7" full rectangle) / 167.3mm (6.6" rounded corners) Resolution (Main Display) 720 x 1600 (HD+) Technology (Main Display) PLS LCD Color Depth (Main Display) 16M Location Technology GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS Earjack 3.5mm Stereo
- Location Technology GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz+5GHz, VHT80 Accelerometer, Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor Support Micro SD Up to 1TB Accelerometer. Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) GPU Mali-G57 MC2 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) Rear Camera - Auto Focus Yes Rear Camera - OIS Yes 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
How close was the Q1 2026 race?
IDC’s final Q1 2026 figures show a very narrow Samsung lead: 62.4 million shipments against Apple’s 61.8 million, a difference of 600,000 units. The reported share gap was 0.2 percentage points. IDC says differences of 0.1 percentage points or less count as a statistical tie, so this result was close but just outside that stated threshold.
| Company | Q1 2026 shipments | Share | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 62.4 million | 21.2% | +2.9% |
| Apple | 61.8 million | 21.0% | +4.4% |
These are IDC shipment estimates. See IDC’s smartphone market-share page for its figures and methodology.
Who led for the full year 2025?
Apple was the global shipment leader for calendar 2025, narrowly ahead of Samsung. Omdia estimated Apple shipped 240.6 million iPhones, up 7% year over year, and said Apple was the largest vendor for the third consecutive year. Samsung also grew 7% and finished marginally behind. The global market grew 2% to 1.25 billion smartphone shipments. Omdia’s full-year 2025 figures are the basis for that annual comparison.
Rank #2
- Versatile Car Phone Mount: Cell phone car mount boasts premium suction strength and an upgraded air vent clip, allowing for flexible installation options on windshields, dashboards, and air vents. Note！3M Dashboard Pad is NOT REQUIRED when using a phone holder on windshield
- Strong Suction Performance: Car phone holder comes with a double-locked suction cup made of heat-resistant TPU material, guaranteeing it stays firmly attached to your dashboard even in extreme heat. Reactivate its sticky power by washing with water and air-drying.
- Fully Adjustable Design: Featuring a 360-degree rotating ball joint and an adjustable extension arm ranging from 3.7 inches to 5.9 inches, this dash-Mounted phone mount for cars allows you to customize your phone's placement to any desired angle or distance, offering maximum viewing flexibility.
- Universal Fit: Engineered to accommodate all smartphones ranging in size from 4.0 to 7.1 inches and devices up to 14mm thick, including GPS devices, this phone stand for trucks includes a one-touch release mechanism for swift and easy phone mounting. It serves as an excellent accessory for drivers requiring constant phone access, enhancing driving stability and safety.
- Comprehensive Safety Features: The car phone mount for iPhone includes a unique hook design fortified with stainless steel and padded with thick plastic, ensuring secure engagement with air vent blades without causing scratches. The robust silicone rubber provides sturdy protection, even on bumpy roads. Note: Not suitable for circular air vents desk mount.
The quarter can look different from the year: Omdia put Apple at 25% share in Q4 2025, compared with Samsung at 18%. Omdia’s Q4 2025 report shows how a strong launch and holiday period can shape a quarterly ranking.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Why do shipment rankings change between quarters and trackers?
A quarterly lead is a snapshot, not a permanent verdict. Apple’s iPhone launch and holiday cycle can concentrate demand in particular quarters; Samsung sells across a wider set of models and price points throughout the year. Channel inventory also affects when shipments are recorded: a phone sent to a retailer in one period may be bought by a consumer in another.
Trackers may differ because they use different definitions and estimation methods, publish preliminary or final data at different times, and group brands differently. Calendar-quarter reporting can also be confused with a company’s fiscal calendar. Some market trackers group brands such as OnePlus and realme under OPPO, which changes comparisons among companies. Do not combine one firm’s percentage with another firm’s unit count as though both came from one consistent dataset.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Why does Samsung often lead quarterly volume?
Samsung’s portfolio spans premium Galaxy S phones, Galaxy Z foldables, mid-range Galaxy A models, and lower-priced devices. That breadth gives it more price points, form factors, and opportunities to reach shoppers through retail and carrier channels, including in price-sensitive markets. A company with many models can accumulate more shipments even when no single model tops a best-seller list.
IDC linked Samsung’s Q1 2026 performance to Galaxy S26 Ultra demand and earlier availability of A-series models. In Q2, Counterpoint cited availability, pricing and promotions, as well as strength in India and the Middle East. These explanations are tied to those reported periods, not a guarantee of future leadership.
How can Apple lead with a narrower phone lineup?
Apple concentrates its phone business in the iPhone family, with premium positioning and a strong ecosystem that can encourage customers to stay with iOS. Its launch cycle can concentrate shipments, while older iPhone generations may remain available alongside newer ones. These factors help Apple compete on annual volume without matching Samsung’s breadth of models and price tiers.
Rank #4
- International Model in the USA Market is Compatible with Tmobile, AT&T and Verizon. Carrier compatibility may vary, IMEI activation required for Metro, Mint. Unlocked Worldwide GSM 4G LTE PHONE.
- No USA Warranty. This is a Latin American Model with 1 Year Warranty in Latin America, & Caribbean, Check the model in your Phone SM-A075M/DS, if the model is different there is no Local Warranty in Latin America. Charger NOT Included.
- SIM Configuration: SIM 1 + SIM 2 + MicroSD/--/4G FDD LTE B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B20(800), B28(700), B66(AWS-3) 4G TDD LTE B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500) - 3G UMTS B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900) - 2G Quad Band
- Size (Main_Display) 171.3mm (6.7" full rectangle) / 167.3mm (6.6" rounded corners) Resolution (Main Display) 720 x 1600 (HD+) Technology (Main Display) PLS LCD Color Depth (Main Display) 16M Location Technology GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS Earjack 3.5mm Stereo
- Location Technology GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz+5GHz, VHT80 Accelerometer, Accelerometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor Support Micro SD Up to 1TB Accelerometer. Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) GPU Mali-G57 MC2 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) Rear Camera - Auto Focus Yes Rear Camera - OIS Yes 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Omdia reported Apple’s highest annual iPhone shipment volume to date in 2025 and associated its performance with strong iPhone 17 demand, including substantial growth in mainland China during Q4. That result does not mean Apple leads in every quarter or country.
Does the best-selling individual phone settle the company comparison?
No. Counterpoint identified the iPhone 16 as the world’s best-selling individual smartphone model in 2025 and said Apple had seven models in the global top ten. That model-level ranking is different from a company-wide total: Samsung’s shipments are spread across many Galaxy models. Counterpoint’s 2025 model ranking supports the individual-model result, not a claim that Apple shipped more phones than Samsung overall in every period.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who makes more from phones?
Shipment leadership does not answer which company earns more revenue or profit from smartphones. Apple reports iPhone revenue, but Samsung reports mobile-experience results within its MX/NW segment, which also includes tablets, wearables, and network equipment. Those company-reported categories are not directly comparable as smartphone-only totals.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Best Value
- 3 IN 1 Phone Holders for Your Car: Cell phone GPS navigation holder car is equipped with a suction cup and vent clip, which can be freely mounted on the windshield, dashboard, and air vent for feeding your different usage needs. Cell phone Camera Mounts holder is applied to most cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, taxis. A perfect assistant for Uber, Lyft drivers.
- Enhanced Powerful Suction Cup: Phone GPS navigation holder mount is equipped with double-lock suction cup and uses heat-resistant TPU material , which can provide strong suction power on smooth surfaces, and keep the mount stable in any conditions. To restore adhesion, simply rinse the sticky surface with warm water and wipe dry.
- Perfect Flexibility: Car phone Camera Mounts holder with 360 degree ball joint and adjustable telescopic arm, which can adjust your phone to any ideal angle without obstructing your view. The telescopic arm can be extended from 6.5 inches to 8.1 inches. Easily adjust the distance between you and the car mount.
- Full Protection: iPhone car mount with vacuum silicone rubber and thick panels can provide full protection for your phone from scratches and drops even at high speeds, bumps or turns.
- Easy Operation: Car mount for iPhone has a one-touch release button, you can release your phone with one hand while driving. Adjustable feet accommodate all 4-7 inch phones and most thick cases.
Apple’s investor-relations reports provide sales by product category. Samsung’s investor-relations reports describe its business segments. Without a current, comparable smartphone-only revenue or profit measure, unit rankings should not be used to declare a financial winner.
Does one company lead in every region or price segment?
No. A global ranking does not apply uniformly to each country or price band. Samsung’s broad range supports its presence in emerging and price-sensitive markets; Apple is especially strong in premium-oriented markets, including the United States. China is important and competitive for both: Omdia described stronger Apple performance there in Q4 2025, while Counterpoint reported weaker Apple performance in China in Q2 2026. Counterpoint cited India and the Middle East as strengths for Samsung in that quarter.
Premium-phone leadership is also a separate question from total-market volume. A research firm’s premium category depends on its price threshold, and premium-unit share, premium revenue share, and flagship-only comparisons are not interchangeable. IDC said Apple and Samsung were resilient in the premium segment during Q1 2026 even as the wider market declined. IDC’s market commentary provides that segment context.
What could change in the rest of 2026?
The market outlook is a forecast, not a settled result. Counterpoint reported an 11% year-over-year shipment decline in Q2 2026 and pointed to memory-component constraints. IDC forecast a 13.9% decline in full-year 2026 shipments, to approximately 1.09 billion smartphones. Both firms expected premium phones to hold up better than entry-level and mid-range devices, but the forecast does not establish which company will lead the full year. See Counterpoint’s Q2 report and IDC’s market data and outlook.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat should a phone buyer take from the rankings?
A company’s shipment lead is not a product recommendation. Compare the specific models available in your country, their current prices and promotions, operating system, carrier compatibility, software support, camera priorities, and fit with devices and services you already use. The effective price can change with storage choice, trade-in condition, financing, and carrier offers, so compare the exact model and terms rather than relying on a global brand ranking.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
