--- title: "Smartphone Statistics 2026: Shipments, Share and Ownership" date: 2026-02-07 author: "Supriya Gharat" featured_image: "https://xtendedview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/smartphone-statistics-shipments-share-ownership-1.jpg" categories: - name: "Technology" url: "/category/technology.md" tags: - name: "Statistics" url: "/tag/statistics.md" --- # Smartphone Statistics 2026: Shipments, Share and Ownership Global smartphone shipments shrank **22.0%** year-on-year to **255.3 million** units in the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary data from International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC called it the highest year-on-year decline to date of any quarter, with memory costs up approximately **350%** since last year. These smartphone statistics cover shipments, vendor share, prices, operating systems, ownership and networks, each with its period and source. IDC now forecasts 2026 shipments to decline **13.9%** to **1.09 billion** units, which would be the steepest annual contraction in smartphone history. About nine-in-ten US adults (**91%**) own a smartphone, up from **35%** in 2011, per Pew Research Center. ## Key Takeaways - Shipments fell **4.1%** in Q1 2026, **6.7%** in Q2 2026 and **22.0%** in Q3 2026, ending a run of growth that began in mid 2023. - Memory costs were up nearly **300%** from a year earlier in Q2 2026 and approximately **350%** by Q3 2026, per IDC. - Samsung (**22.6%**) and Apple (**22.4%**) led Q3 2026 shipments, while Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo shipments fell **29.2%**, **34.5%** and **31.5%**. - IDC’s May 2026 forecast puts 2026 shipments at **1.09 billion**, with a further **1.1%** decline expected in 2027. - **16%** of US adults are smartphone-only internet users, owning a smartphone but no home broadband service, per Pew Research Center. - **82%** of individuals 10 years or older own a mobile phone worldwide, but only **53%** in low-income economies. ## Editor’s Choice - Smartphones shipped worldwide in 2025: **1.26 billion** units. - Global smartphone shipments, Q3 2026: **255.3 million** units. - IDC’s 2026 average selling price forecast: a record **$550**. - Android share of mobile operating system use, September 2026: **69.17%**. - Global 5G subscriptions after Q1 2026: **3.1 billion**. - Apple iPhone net sales, three months ended June 27, 2026: **$54,252 million**. ## Smartphone Statistics: Global Shipments in Q3 2026 - The global smartphone market shrank **22.0%** year-on-year to **255.3 million** units in Q3 2026, based on IDC’s preliminary tracker data. - IDC said the drop marked the highest year-on-year decline to date of any quarter. - Memory costs have surged approximately **350%** since last year and are still rising, said IDC senior research director Nabila Popal. - IDC expects market growth to be constrained through 2027, with any possible recovery pushed to 2028 at the least. - [Samsung shipped **57.8 million** units](/samsung-statistics/) and Apple **57.3 million**, down **5.8%** and **4.0%**. - Samsung and Apple together held **45.0%** of Q3 2026 shipments. | Company | Q3 2026 shipments (millions) | Q3 2026 share (%) | Q3 2025 shipments (millions) | Q3 2025 share (%) | Year-over-year change (%) | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Samsung | 57.8 | 22.6 | 61.4 | 18.7 | -5.8 | | Apple | 57.3 | 22.4 | 59.7 | 18.2 | -4.0 | | Xiaomi | 30.7 | 12.0 | 43.4 | 13.2 | -29.2 | | OPPO | 25.6 | 10.0 | 39.1 | 11.9 | -34.5 | | vivo | 19.1 | 7.5 | 27.9 | 8.5 | -31.5 | | Others | 64.8 | 25.4 | 96.0 | 29.3 | -32.5 | | Total | 255.3 | 100.0 | 327.3 | 100.0 | -22.0 | *Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, October 14, 2026 (preliminary)* ### Is the smartphone market declining? Yes, by shipment volume: shipments fell **22.0%** in Q3 2026, and IDC forecasts a **13.9%** decline for 2026 as a whole. IDC says that as higher prices reach the shelf, many buyers are keeping their current devices longer. Fewer upgrades, not fewer owners, is what the shipment data reflects. ### About This Data Compiled from 13 sources. They include 7 IDC tracker releases and forecasts, 2 company releases and filings, 1 Pew Research Center survey, 1 UN agency report, 1 web usage dataset and 1 research firm release. Sources were published between October 2025 and October 2026. Only organizations that produced the figures were used; market-research resellers were excluded. Figures are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated when sources publish new editions. ## Quarterly Smartphone Shipments Since Q3 2025 - Global shipments increased **2.6%** year-over-year to **322.7 million** units in the third quarter of 2025, IDC’s first estimate for that quarter. - IDC’s Q3 2026 table lists Q3 2025 shipments at **327.3 million**, so the base was revised up by **4.6 million** units. - Q4 2025 shipments rose **2.3%** year-over-year to **336.3 million** units, supported by premium growth, foldables and pull-in demand as consumers anticipated upcoming price hikes. - Q1 2026 shipments decreased **4.1%** to **289.7 million**, breaking a growth streak of **10** consecutive quarters that began in mid 2023. - Q2 2026 shipments fell **6.7%**, the second consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline. SHIPMENTS · Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, preliminary figures as first reported, October 2025 to October 2026 SHIPMENTS IDC · 2025 to 2026 Global Smartphone Shipments by Quarter (Millions) 400 300 200 100 0 322.7 Q3 2025 336.3 Q4 2025 289.7 Q1 2026 277.5 Q2 2026 255.3 Q3 2026 SOURCE IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, preliminary figures as first reported, October 2025 to October 2026 View the data| Quarter | Shipments (millions) | |---|---| | Q3 2025 | 322.7 | | Q4 2025 | 336.3 | | Q1 2026 | 289.7 | | Q2 2026 | 277.5 | | Q3 2026 | 255.3 | ## Recent Developments - **October 14, 2026:** IDC reported a **22.0%** year-on-year drop in Q3 2026 smartphone shipments, to **255.3 million** units. - **October 14, 2026:** IDC said Samsung and Apple continue to gain share as shipment declines at Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo intensify. - **October 14, 2026:** IDC warned that vendors who raised production plans could face inventory build-up heading into 2027 if demand remains weak. - **September 2026:** Android held **69.17%** of worldwide mobile operating system market share and iOS **30.81%**, according to StatCounter. - **July 30, 2026:** Apple reported fiscal 2026 third-quarter revenue of **$109.4 billion**, up **16%** year over year. ## Annual Smartphone Shipments and the 2026 Forecast - [Smartphone shipments](/smartphone-sales-statistics/) reached **1.26 billion** units in 2025, closing the year with **1.9%** year-over-year growth. - IDC’s February 26, 2026 forecast: shipments to decline **12.9%** in 2026 to **1.1 billion** units, the lowest annual volume in more than a decade. - IDC’s May 26, 2026 update: a **13.9%** decline to **1.09 billion** units, a further downward revision from the February forecast. - The 2027 outlook moved from a modest recovery of **2%** in the February forecast to a second consecutive decline of **1.1%** in the May forecast. February vs May · Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecasts, February 26 and May 26, 2026 IDC · 2026 IDC Shipment Forecasts by Year (% Change) February vs May February 2026 forecast (%) May 2026 forecast (%) 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 -12.9% -13.9% 2% -1.1% 5.2% 5.5% 2026 2027 2028 February 2026 forecast (%) · -12.9% May 2026 forecast (%) · -13.9% February 2026 forecast (%) · 2% May 2026 forecast (%) · -1.1% February 2026 forecast (%) · 5.2% May 2026 forecast (%) · 5.5% SOURCE IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecasts, February 26 and May 26, 2026 View the data| Year | February 2026 forecast (%) | May 2026 forecast (%) | |---|---|---| | 2026 | -12.9 | -13.9 | | 2027 | 2 | -1.1 | | 2028 | 5.2 | 5.5 | ## Smartphone Market Share by Vendor in 2025 - Apple shipped **247.8 million** smartphones in 2025 for a **19.7%** share, ahead of Samsung’s **241.2 million** and **19.1%**. - Apple and Samsung posted the highest growth rates among the top 5, at **6.3%** and **7.9%**. - Their combined share expanded by two percentage points to **39%**, up from **37%** the year before. - [Xiaomi ranked third](/xiaomi-smartphone-statistics/) with **165.3 million** units and a **13.1%** share. - Apple maintained its leadership for the third consecutive year, per IDC. - Vendors outside the top 5 shipped **400.0 million** units, or **31.7%** of the 2025 total. 2025 SHARE · Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, 2026 (preliminary) 2025 SHARE IDC · 2026 Smartphone Shipment Share by Vendor, 2025 (%) 31.7% OTHERS Apple 19.7% Samsung 19.1% Xiaomi 13.1% vivo 8.2% OPPO 8.1% Others 31.7% SOURCE IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, 2026 (preliminary) View the data| Vendor | 2025 share (%) | |---|---| | Apple | 19.7 | | Samsung | 19.1 | | Xiaomi | 13.1 | | vivo | 8.2 | | OPPO | 8.1 | | Others | 31.7 | ### Who is the No. 1 smartphone brand? Apple led full-year 2025 shipments with **247.8 million** units. Samsung led Q3 2026 with **57.8 million**. The answer depends on the period you pick, because the two brands sit within a percentage point of each other in both the annual and the latest quarterly table. ## Samsung vs Apple Smartphone Market Share by Quarter - In Q2 2026, Samsung shipped **62.7 million** units for a **22.6%** share and Apple **55.8 million** for **20.1%**. - Apple’s Q2 2026 shipments grew **15.3%** and Samsung’s **8.1%**, while Xiaomi’s fell **26.3%**. - IDC said Apple was on track for a record **22%** annual share this year. - [Huawei posted **20.9%**](/huawei-statistics/) year-on-year growth in Q2 2026 by holding prices steady in China. - In Q3 2026, Samsung’s share reached **22.6%** and Apple’s **22.4%**, up from **18.7%** and **18.2%** a year earlier. Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, April 14, July 13 and October 14, 2026 (preliminary) IDC · 2026 Samsung vs Apple Shipment Share by Quarter (%) 25 20 15 10 5 0 Samsung share (%): 22.6 Apple share (%): 22.4 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 SOURCE IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 13, April 14, July 13 and October 14, 2026 (preliminary) View the data| Quarter | Samsung share (%) | Apple share (%) | |---|---|---| | Q3 2025 | 18.7 | 18.2 | | Q4 2025 | 18.2 | 24.2 | | Q1 2026 | 21.7 | 21.1 | | Q2 2026 | 22.6 | 20.1 | | Q3 2026 | 22.6 | 22.4 | > **By the numbers:** Xiaomi shipped **30.7 million** units in Q3 2026, OPPO **25.6 million** and vivo **19.1 million**. Together they shipped **35.0 million** fewer units than a year earlier, against **6.0 million** fewer for Samsung and Apple combined. ## Smartphone Prices and Memory Costs - IDC’s February forecast projected the smartphone average selling price to rise **14%** to a record **$523** in 2026. - By May 2026, IDC expected a record average selling price of **$550**, up **$100** from last year. - Memory costs were up nearly **300%** from a year earlier, according to IDC’s Q2 2026 release. - In IDC’s Q1 2026 release, prices in several emerging markets had risen by as much as **40 to 50%**. - IDC said the sub-$100 segment of **171 million** devices would become permanently uneconomical. | Indicator | Value | Period | |---|---|---| | Average selling price forecast, February release | $523 | 2026 | | Average selling price forecast, May release | $550 | 2026 | | Memory cost increase vs a year earlier | nearly 300% | Q2 2026 | | Memory cost increase since last year | approximately 350% | Q3 2026 | | Memory share of bill of materials, low-end devices | over 65% | Q2 2026 | | Price rises in several emerging markets | as much as 40 to 50% | Q1 2026 | | Sub-$100 devices made permanently uneconomical | 171 million | 2026 forecast | *Source: IDC smartphone releases and forecasts, February to October 2026* > **Key finding:** Memory now accounts for over **65%** of the bill of materials at the low end, making survival increasingly difficult for manufacturers with low-end portfolios, IDC’s Nabila Popal said. That cost share helps explain why budget-focused brands are falling fastest while premium vendors decline far less. ## Smartphone Shipment Forecast by Region - Regions with the highest concentration of sub-$200 devices are facing the sharpest declines, with the Middle East and Africa forecast to drop **23%** in 2026. - North America holds up comparatively well, with only a **6.3%** decline forecast. - In North America, **60%** of shipments in Q1 2026 were above **$800**. - IDC’s February forecast had expected a **20.6%** drop for the Middle East and Africa and **10.5%** for China. FORECAST 2026 DECLINE · Source: IDC smartphone forecast, May 26, 2026 FORECAST 2026 DECLINE IDC · 2026 Forecast 2026 Shipment Decline by Region (%) Middle East and Africa 23% Central and Eastern Europe 19% Asia Pacific excluding Japan and China 14% China 13% North America 6.3% 0 6 12 18 24 SOURCE IDC smartphone forecast, May 26, 2026 View the data| Region | Forecast 2026 decline (%) | |---|---| | Middle East and Africa | 23 | | Central and Eastern Europe | 19 | | Asia Pacific excluding Japan and China | 14 | | China | 13 | | North America | 6.3 | ## Mobile Operating System Market Share - Android held **69.17%** of [worldwide mobile operating system market share](/operating-system-statistics/) in September 2026, according to StatCounter. - iOS held **30.81%** in the same month. - IDC forecasts Android shipments to drop **21%** in 2026, while its iOS forecast improved from an **8.1%** decline to just **5.2%**. - IDC expects iOS to deliver its highest annual share ever in 2026, at **22%**. - Huawei’s HarmonyOS is forecast to reach **62 million** units in 2026, up from the **42 million** previously forecasted. MARKET SHARE · Source: StatCounter Global Stats, September 2026 MARKET SHARE StatCounter · 2026 Mobile OS Market Share Worldwide, Sept 2026 (%) 69.17% ANDROID Android 69.17% iOS 30.81% Linux 0.01% KaiOS 0.01% SOURCE StatCounter Global Stats, September 2026 View the data| Operating system | Market share (%) | |---|---| | Android | 69.17 | | iOS | 30.81 | | Linux | 0.01 | | KaiOS | 0.01 | StatCounter’s share describes phones in use, while IDC’s 22% describes new phones shipped this year, so the two iOS figures answer different questions. ## Smartphone Ownership in the US - About nine-in-ten US adults (**91%**) own a smartphone, up from just **35%** in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership in 2011. - **98%** of Americans now own a cellphone of some kind. - Pew surveyed **5,022** US adults from Feb. 5 to June 18, 2025. - Ownership reached **81%** in the February 2019 survey and **90%** in September 2023. - Pew polls through 2021 were conducted via phone, while the 2024 and 2025 polls used web, mail and phone, so the series spans a change in survey mode. OWN A SMARTPHONE · Source: Pew Research Center, surveys of US adults, 2011 to 2025 OWN A SMARTPHONE Pew Research Center · 2011 to 2025 US Adults Who Own a Smartphone (%) 100 80 60 40 20 0 May ’11 Dec ’12 Oct ’13 Dec ’14 Nov ’15 Nov ’16 Jan ’18 Feb ’19 Feb ’21 Sep ’23 Jun ’24 Jun ’25 SOURCE Pew Research Center, surveys of US adults, 2011 to 2025 View the data| Survey date | Own a smartphone (%) | |---|---| | May 2011 | 35 | | Dec 2012 | 45 | | Oct 2013 | 58 | | Dec 2014 | 59 | | Nov 2015 | 69 | | Nov 2016 | 77 | | Jan 2018 | 77 | | Feb 2019 | 81 | | Feb 2021 | 85 | | Sep 2023 | 90 | | Jun 2024 | 91 | | Jun 2025 | 91 | ## Smartphone Ownership by Age in the US - Smartphone ownership is highest among adults aged 18 to 29, at **97%**, and lowest among adults 65 and older, in Pew’s 2025 survey. - The gap between the youngest and oldest age groups is **19** percentage points. - **16%** of US adults are [smartphone-only internet users](/smartphone-usage-statistics/), meaning they own a smartphone but do not subscribe to a home broadband service. OWN A SMARTPHONE · Source: Pew Research Center, survey of US adults, February 5 to June 18, 2025 OWN A SMARTPHONE Pew Research Center · 2025 US Smartphone Ownership by Age, 2025 (%) 18 to 29 97% 30 to 49 96% 50 to 64 90% 65 and older 78% 0 20 40 60 80 100 SOURCE Pew Research Center, survey of US adults, February 5 to June 18, 2025 View the data| Age group | Own a smartphone (%) | |---|---| | 18 to 29 | 97 | | 30 to 49 | 96 | | 50 to 64 | 90 | | 65 and older | 78 | ## Global Mobile Phone Ownership - Globally, **82%** of individuals 10 years or older own a mobile phone, falling to **53%** in low-income economies, according to the [International Telecommunication Union (ITU)](https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/statistics/2025/10/15/ff25-mobile-phone-ownership/). - Universal ownership, a penetration rate of over **95%**, has been reached in high-income economies. - **78%** of females and **87%** of males aged 10 and over own a mobile phone, a gender parity score of **0.90**. | Group | Own a mobile phone (%) | |---|---| | World, individuals aged 10 and over | 82 | | High-income economies | over 95 | | Upper-middle-income economies | over 90 | | Low-income economies | 53 | | Africa, total population | 66 | | Males aged 10 and over | 87 | | Females aged 10 and over | 78 | *Source: ITU Facts and Figures 2025* > **Why it matters:** In Africa, **66%** of the population own a mobile phone, but only **36%** are online, a difference of **30** percentage points. Low-end price rises land hardest in markets like these, where the gap between owning a phone and using the internet on it is widest. ## iPhone Revenue and Apple’s Smartphone Business - [iPhone net sales](/iphone-statistics/) reached **$54,252 million** in the three months ended June 27, 2026, up from **$44,582 million** a year earlier. - That is a **21.7%** year-over-year increase in iPhone net sales. - For the nine months ended June 27, 2026, iPhone net sales were **$196,515 million**, against **$160,561 million** a year earlier. - Apple said in its [quarterly results filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000320193/000032019326000018/a8-kex991q3202606272026.htm) that its installed base of active devices reached a new all-time high across all major product categories and geographic segments. NET SALES · Net sales, three months ended June 27, 2026 · Source: Apple Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1, quarter ended June 27, 2026 NET SALES Apple · 2026 Apple Net Sales by Category, Fiscal Q3 2026 ($ Millions) Net sales, three months ended June 27, 2026 iPhone $54,252M Services $30,739M Mac $10,352M Wearables, Home and Accessories $7,883M iPad $6,191M 0 12,000 24,000 36,000 48,000 60,000 SOURCE Apple Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1, quarter ended June 27, 2026 View the data| Category | Net sales, three months ended June 27, 2026 ($ millions) | |---|---| | iPhone | 54,252 | | Services | 30,739 | | Mac | 10,352 | | Wearables, Home and Accessories | 7,883 | | iPad | 6,191 | ## 5G Subscriptions and Mobile Networks - The 162 million new 5G subscriptions added in Q1 2026 brought the global total to **3.1 billion**, according to the [Ericsson Mobility Report](https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2026/6/ericsson-mobility-report-5g-subscriptions-top-three-billion-as-uplink-gains-momentum). - [5G subscriptions](/5g-statistics/) are forecast to more than double to **6.4 billion** by the end of 2031. - 5G networks handled **48%** of all mobile data traffic at the end of 2025, a figure expected to rise to **85%** by the end of 2031. | Metric | Value | |---|---| | 5G subscriptions, end of Q1 2026 | 3.1 billion | | New 5G subscriptions added in Q1 2026 | 162 million | | 5G subscriptions forecast, end of 2031 | 6.4 billion | | Service providers with commercial 5G services | some 390 | | 5G share of mobile data traffic, end of 2025 | 48% | | 5G share of mobile data traffic forecast, end of 2031 | 85% | | Network data traffic growth, Q1 2026 year-on-year | 22% | *Source: Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2026* ## Best-Selling Smartphones and Foldables - Apple’s iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. - Apple and Samsung dominated the Top 10 list for the fourth consecutive year, with those 10 models contributing **19%** of overall smartphone sales in 2025. - Samsung captured three spots in the list, with the Galaxy A16 5G becoming the best-selling Android smartphone of 2025. - IDC forecasts foldables to grow **20%** year-on-year in 2026, supported by new models and Apple’s entry into the segment in the second half of the year. ### What is the #1 selling phone in the world? The iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. Counterpoint expects replacement cycles to grow, with financing, trade-ins and the refurbished market likely to alleviate the stress. Rising memory prices make an older flagship the realistic upgrade for many buyers. ## Conclusion IDC’s preliminary data puts third-quarter smartphone shipments at **255.3 million** units, down **22.0%**. These smartphone statistics show memory costs shrinking the market from the bottom, while Samsung and Apple take a larger share of a smaller total. **91%** of US adults already own a smartphone. The next shipment figures depend on how long owners keep their current phones and whether memory prices ease enough for IDC’s forecast rebound to arrive.