Apple and Samsung Dominate Global Best-Selling Phone List, Only One Model from a Third Vendor
Apple and Samsung almost monopolized the global best-selling smartphone market in the first quarter of 2026, taking nine of the top ten spots. Market research firm Counterpoint Research data shows that only Xiaomi broke the duopoly with one entry-level model ranking tenth, with the rest all occupied by iPhone and Galaxy models.
Specifically, the iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of this year, accounting for approximately 6% of global sales as a single model. The iPhone 17 Pro Max ranked second, and the standard iPhone 17 Pro took third place, with Apple directly sweeping the top three. Subsequently, Samsung secured fourth and fifth positions with the Galaxy A07 4G and Galaxy A17 5G.
Apple launched the iPhone 17 series in September 2025, which was widely regarded by the industry as a conventional, incremental upgrade rather than a complete generational change, but this did not hinder the product's market performance. In the second fiscal quarter of 2026, ending March 28, iPhone revenue reached $56.99 billion, slightly below market expectations, but still remained at a very high level overall. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the current problem lies not in demand but in the supply chain, describing demand as "off the charts" but limited flexibility in increasing production and obtaining more components.
In this best-selling model list, Xiaomi is the only manufacturer to break into the top ten that is neither Apple nor Samsung. The model on the list is the Redmi A5, which is also the most affordable product on the list, priced around $100. Counterpoint pointed out that the inclusion of the Redmi A5 highlights the continued existence of a stable and large user base in the ultra-low price segment globally.
Counterpoint Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi pointed out when discussing Apple's performance that the sales performance of the iPhone 17 exceeded that of its predecessors, mainly due to several key upgrades, including higher main camera pixel specifications, larger base storage capacity, and higher screen refresh rates. These improvements brought the experience of the standard iPhone 17 closer to the Pro models, significantly enhancing overall value for money.
On Samsung's side, the Galaxy A series became the company's absolute sales driver for the quarter. The Galaxy A07 4G is not only Samsung's best-selling phone this quarter but also the best-selling Android phone globally. This entry-level product is equipped with a 6.7-inch display, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and a 5000mAh battery, with a whole machine price of less than $100, highlighting a strategy of providing "just enough" configuration at an extremely low price.
Looking ahead to the rest of this year, Counterpoint expects that, against the backdrop of a potentially continued decline in the overall smartphone market, the market share of high-end smartphones will continue to increase. This means that Apple and Samsung's strong product matrix in the mid-to-high-end and flagship price ranges will continue to consolidate their dominant position on the global sales list in the coming quarters, while other manufacturers will compete for a place on the edge of the list more through entry-level models with significant price advantages.