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Counterpoint: Top 10 smartphones captured 25% of global shipments in Q1 2026
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Briefly Editorial Team

Counterpoint: Top 10 smartphones captured 25% of global shipments in Q1 2026

TL;DR

  • •Apple iPhone 17 leads with 6% global shipment share
  • •Samsung Galaxy A07 4G became most sold Android phone
  • •Xiaomi Redmi A5 retained top-10 position

Why it matters

The record market concentration highlights dominance of major brands. Apple's strategy of narrowing Pro and standard model gaps boosted sales, while Samsung's budget phones continue to dominate emerging markets.

Record Market Concentration

Counterpoint Research reported that the top 10 smartphones accounted for 25% of global shipments in Q1 2026 — the highest concentration in market history. Apple secured three top spots, Samsung five, Xiaomi one.

Apple's Strategy and Sales Growth

The iPhone 17 led with 6% market share. Its success stems from closing the gap between standard and Pro models: the base version now includes 256 GB storage, a 48MP main camera, and a 120Hz ProMotion display. This made the model more attractive to mass consumers. Sales grew double-digit figures in China, the US, and South Korea.

Samsung's Budget Dominance

Samsung claimed five top-10 spots through its Galaxy A budget series. The Galaxy A07 4G became the most sold Android phone, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Galaxy S26 Ultra showed strong demand but didn't enter the top-10.

Xiaomi's Top-10 Presence

Xiaomi retained its position with the Redmi A5. This confirms the resilience of the Chinese brand in the global market, especially in the affordable device segment.