The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Global smartphone shipments fell 2.9% year over year to 293.8 million in Q1 2026, according to IDC’s final estimate published June 23. The decline ended ten consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth dating back to mid-2023. It was a modest overall contraction with a sharp split among leading brands: Samsung and Apple grew, while Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo shipped fewer phones.
What IDC’s Q1 figures measure
IDC’s final historical results come from its Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, with tracker data dated May 7, 2026. The figures count shipments of new branded devices; they exclude refurbished units and OEM sales. They therefore describe devices shipped into the market, not a direct count of phones bought by consumers.
IDC recorded 293.8 million shipments in Q1 2026, compared with 302.6 million a year earlier. The 2.9% year-over-year decline ended a growth streak that had lasted ten quarters since mid-2023. IDC treats vendor market-share figures within 0.1 percentage points of one another as a statistical tie, so Samsung’s and Apple’s reported shares were effectively level by that measure. IDC’s final Q1 2026 results.
Which smartphone brands grew or declined?
Samsung and Apple were the only companies among IDC’s top five with year-over-year shipment growth. The remaining top-five brands recorded declines.
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| Vendor | Q1 2026 shipments | Market share | Year-over-year shipment change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 62.4 million | 21.2% | +2.9% |
| Apple | 61.8 million | 21.0% | +4.4% |
| Xiaomi | 33.8 million | 11.5% | −19.1% |
| OPPO | 30.7 million | 10.5% | −9.9% |
| vivo | 21.2 million | 7.2% | −6.9% |
| Others | 84.0 million | 28.6% | −0.3% |
| Total | 293.8 million | 100.0% | −2.9% |
IDC credited Samsung’s return to first place to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and an earlier release of the mid-range A-Series, despite the later launch of the Galaxy S26. It attributed Apple’s growth to the iPhone 17 series and reported that iPhone 17 shipments in China grew by more than 30%. Those are IDC’s explanations and reported figures, not independent tests of the devices or a measurement of consumer motives. IDC also said Honor, Lenovo and Huawei grew outside the top five; Honor’s 24.9% growth was the highest among the top ten.
Why did shipments fall, according to IDC?
IDC attributed the contraction to restricted memory availability and higher memory costs. In its June 23 release, the firm said acute supply constraints limited shipments, while higher component costs pushed brands to raise prices. IDC reported increases of as much as 40–50% in smartphone prices in several emerging markets, which it said weighed on demand in price-sensitive regions.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- 4G LTE Bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41
- Display: Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
IDC also identified increased energy and logistics costs associated with the war in the Middle East as additional downside risks. These are IDC’s assessments of market pressures; the figures do not establish how individual consumers changed or delayed purchases.
How the later 2026 outlook changed
The Q1 result is a historical shipment figure, not a full-year forecast. IDC’s May 26 outlook projected a 13.9% full-year decline to 1.09 billion shipments. Its page, updated September 17, later reported a 7.4% Q2 contraction to 276.3 million and revised the full-year 2026 forecast to a 16.7% decline. The September forecast supersedes May’s for a current outlook; both are projections, not final annual results. IDC’s updated market page.
Rank #3
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
IDC attributed the worsening outlook to the memory shortage and said NAND and DRAM costs were up more than 300% year over year. Its September page projected an average selling price of $581 for 2026, up 27.6%, and market value of $613 billion, up 6.3%, even as unit shipments were expected to fall. It also forecast foldable shipments to grow 12.6% to 22.9 million units, partly on the expectation of Apple’s second-half entry. These are forecasts made on the later-updated page, not confirmed outcomes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which regions face the greatest forecast pressure?
IDC’s regional figures below are full-year 2026 forecasts published in May, not measured Q1 regional changes. The firm expected the steepest declines in markets with greater exposure to low-cost devices, particularly where consumers are more sensitive to price changes. North America’s comparatively smaller projected fall reflected, in IDC’s account, the large portion of premium devices in that market.
Rank #4
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- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
| Region | IDC May forecast for full-year 2026 shipment change |
|---|---|
| Middle East and Africa | −23% |
| Central and Eastern Europe | −19% |
| Asia Pacific excluding Japan and China | −14% |
| China | −13% |
| North America | −6.3% |
IDC’s May outlook also projected the sharpest pressure in the sub-$200 smartphone segment. Those regional and price-tier estimates belong to that May forecast vintage; they should not be read as Q1 actuals or as the revised September regional outlook. IDC’s May 2026 outlook.
Quick Recap
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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.
