Counterpoint Research released its latest smartphone sales data for the first quarter of 2026, and the picture is clear: premium phones are taking over, and Apple is leading the charge.
The iPhone 17 emerged as the world's best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026, capturing a 6% share of global unit sales, Counterpoint noted on Monday. Not far behind were the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro, which took the second and third spots, respectively. That's a clean sweep of the top three for Apple.
Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi said the iPhone 17 outperformed its predecessor thanks to upgrades to storage, the camera, and the display, bringing it closer to Pro variants and improving overall value. He also noted strong double-digit growth in key markets such as China and the U.S., as well as threefold growth in South Korea.
But Apple isn't the only game in town. Samsung's Galaxy A series placed five models in the top 10, making it the most represented lineup. The Galaxy A07 4G ranked as the best-selling Android smartphone, driven by demand in emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, and supported by long-term software updates. Samsung's flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed the top 10 but recorded stronger early sales than its predecessor, aided by new AI features and a privacy display.
Xiaomi's Redmi A5 secured the tenth spot as the most affordable model, maintaining steady demand across emerging regions.
The top 10 smartphones accounted for 25% of global unit sales in the first quarter, the highest concentration recorded for a March quarter. Counterpoint attributed this to strong iPhone demand and pressure on mass-market Android segments due to rising component costs from memory shortages.
Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said the share of top models is expected to increase further in 2026 as overall market growth slows, prompting OEMs to focus more on premium devices and prioritize value over volume.
As for Apple's stock, shares were down 0.17% at $276.35 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to market data.
