Global smartphone shipments fell sharply in the third quarter of 2026, dropping to their lowest third-quarter level since 2013 as higher device prices weighed on demand. According to research firm Omdia, manufacturers shipped 254.7 million units, a 20 percent decline from a year earlier.
The report attributed the slump primarily to rising smartphone prices.
Samsung remained the top vendor with 57.8 million units shipped, down 5 percent year-on-year.
Apple followed closely, shipping 56.5 million iPhones and matching its year-earlier volume.
Xiaomi ranked third with 30.7 million units, a 29 percent decrease year-on-year.
Oppo shipped 23.4 million units, down 39 percent, while vivo shipped 19.3 million units, down 33 percent from Q3 2025.
Brands are increasingly focusing on profitable markets and key products amid component shortages, adjusting RAM and storage configurations and trimming model lineups to manage costs and protect margins, Omdia noted.
Omdia expects global smartphone shipments to fall another 12 percent in 2026, with a further but slower decline likely in 2027.
Source: Omdia
