April 10 (Reuters) – iPhone maker Apple led global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2026, growing 5% year-on-year, even as overall shipments fell due to shortages of memory components, Counterpoint Research said on Friday.
Global smartphone shipments fell 6% from a year earlier as tensions in the Middle East also hit consumer confidence, the research firm said.
* Apple led the smartphone market for the first time in a first quarter with a 21% market share, Counterpoint said. * The firm attributed the growth to Apple’s premium positioning, its integrated supply chain and its performance in China. * The iPhone maker posted a 23% rise in smartphone sales in China in the first nine weeks of 2026. * Samsung’s shipments declined 6% year-on-year in the quarter, giving it a 20% market share, as a delay in the launch of the Galaxy S26 and weakness in the entry-level segment weighed on volumes, the research firm said. * Xiaomi maintained its third place with a 13% share, but fell the most among the top five brands, according to the report. * The decline in overall shipments “is primarily due to memory players prioritizing AI data centers over consumer electronics,” said Counterpoint analyst Shilpi Jain.
(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)