A tough quarter for phones: IDC Q3 2026 smartphone shipments fell 22% year-on-year to 255.3 million, the tracker’s steepest quarterly annual decline. These are preliminary global figures.
IDC Q3 2026 Vendor Table
| Vendor | Shipments (million) | Share | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 57.8 | 22.6% | -5.8% |
| Apple | 57.3 | 22.4% | -4.0% |
| Xiaomi | 30.7 | 12.0% | -29.2% |
| OPPO | 25.6 | 10.0% | -34.5% |
| vivo | 19.1 | 7.5% | -31.5% |
| Others | 64.8 | 25.4% | -32.5% |
| Total | 255.3 | 100.0% | -22.0% |
Samsung and Apple gained share despite lower shipments. Their premium lineups helped them weather the downturn.
Memory Costs Hit Smartphones
IDC links the slump to AI-led memory shortages and rising component costs. It expects growth constraints through 2027, with recovery possible no earlier than 2028. Read the full IDC report.
How to Read These Numbers
Shipments are not retail sales: units entering distribution do not necessarily reach buyers in the same quarter. A brand can also gain market share while shipping fewer phones if the total market shrinks faster.
For Indian readers, this is a global snapshot, not an India-specific sales result or a confirmed price increase for a particular handset. Compare local prices and offers separately before choosing a phone.