Global smartphone shipments fall 20% to their lowest Q3 total since 2012

First reported by 9to5Google at · Updated · 7 sources

Samsung led the market with 23% of shipments, while Apple exceeded 20% for the first time in a third quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. MacRumors reports that Apple's share reached 22% even as its own shipments declined. Higher phone prices are squeezing consumers' wallets, CNET reports, citing the research firm.

  • Rising memory costs contributed to the market downturn.
  • Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo all had weak quarters.

Covered by 7 publishers within 44 hours of the first report.

Reporting7

9to5Google Smartphone shipments dropped by 20%, lowest point in 14 years amid memory crisis · Ben Schoon
iPhone in Canada Apple Hits Record iPhone Market Share as Smartphone Sales Plunge 20% · John Quintet
Light Reading Mainland China smartphone shipments drop to lowest Q3 level since 2013 – Omdia
DigiTimes Memory crisis drives global smartphone shipments down 20%, deepening premium-budget divide · DIGITIMES
Bloomberg Smartphone Shipments Crash 22% in Worst Quarter Ever, IDC Says · Vlad Savov
Android Headlines Global Smartphone Market Shrank 20% in Q3 2026 — Samsung & Apple Dominate · Kristijan Lucic
Tom's Guide Global smartphone shipments plunge a record 22% — analyst warns 'the worst is yet to come' · Dave LeClair

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