Apple Tops Global Smartphone Shipments in Q1 2026

Apple has claimed the top position in global smartphone shipments for the first time during the first quarter of a year, according to preliminary data from market research firm Counterpoint Research. The company captured a 21 percent market share in Q1 2026, with shipments increasing 5 percent year over year, even as the overall market contracted by 6 percent.

The achievement comes amid persistent challenges in the smartphone industry, including a severe shortage of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash components. Memory suppliers have prioritized production for AI data centers over consumer electronics, disrupting supply chains and driving up manufacturing costs for original equipment manufacturers. This has forced many companies to either absorb higher expenses or raise retail prices, further dampening consumer demand. Additional pressures, such as rising energy and logistics costs along with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, have weakened sentiment, particularly in entry-level and midrange segments.

Apple's outperformance stems from strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, bolstered by its ultrapremium positioning and a highly integrated supply chain that...