Global smartphone shipments fell by 22% in the third quarter of 2026, reaching 255.3 million units, according to IDC. This decline is attributed to a surge in memory chip prices, which have risen by approximately 350% year-over-year, impacting production costs and consumer demand.
Samsung Electronics maintained its lead with 57.8 million units shipped, capturing a 22.6% market share despite a 5.8% decline in volume. Apple followed closely with a 22.4% share, shipping 57.3 million units, which represents a 4% decrease. Xiaomi ranked third, with shipments dropping 29.2% to 30.7 million units.
Chinese manufacturers faced significant challenges, with Oppo and Vivo seeing shipments decline by 34.5% and 31.5% respectively. Smaller players outside the top five saw a collective 32.5% drop in shipments. The top five companies currently control 74.6% of the global market.
IDC analysts warn that the market has not yet reached its bottom, with recovery not expected until 2028 at the earliest. High component costs are forcing consumers to retain their existing devices longer, while manufacturers risk overstocking if they continue to increase production plans amidst weak demand.
