The basic version of the “iPhone 17” accounted for about 6% of the total global smartphone sales during the second quarter, continuing its lead after also occupying first place during the first quarter of the year.
“iPhone 17 Pro Max” came in second place, followed by “iPhone 17 Pro” third, while “Galaxy S26 Ultra” came fourth, making it the best-selling Android phone during the same quarter.
Apple and Samsung phones together accounted for about 26% of total global sales, an increase of two percentage points compared to the same period last year.
Counterpoint attributed this performance to the strong growth of the two companies in markets outside their traditional areas of influence. Apple recorded remarkable growth in India, Japan, the Middle East and Africa, while its sales in South Korea nearly doubled.
According to the company’s analysts, the “iPhone 17” benefited from major upgrades that narrowed the gap between it and the “Pro” versions, making it an attractive option for consumers who want a flagship phone at a lower price than the higher categories.
Also, the “iPhone 17 Pro” versions benefited from the continued demand for luxury phones, supported by device exchange programs, promotions, and installment options.
The “iPhone 17e” ranked seventh, benefiting from the addition of “MagSafe” support and increased storage capacity without raising the price, in addition to offers from telecommunications companies in the United States and Japan. The “iPhone 16” came in tenth place, with Apple occupying five places out of ten.
As for Samsung, the “Galaxy S26 Ultra” was its most prominent performing phone, marking the first time that its most expensive flagship phone outperformed all other Android phones during the second quarter.
Counterpoint attributed this performance in part to Samsung increasing its marketing spending on flagship phones to protect its profit margins in light of rising manufacturing costs, while the cheaper Galaxy A phones maintained their competitiveness.
At the market level, global smartphone sales declined by 11% during the second quarter of 2026, amid a shortage of some components and high prices, which prompted companies to focus on the most profitable devices.
Despite this decline, Apple and Samsung succeeded in increasing their sales in terms of the number of units compared to the same period last year, in a performance that contradicted the general market trend. (aitnews)
