Danny Weber
Global smartphone processor shipments fell 8% YoY in Q1 2026 as memory shortage hit. MediaTek held 32% share, Qualcomm 23%, Apple climbed to 19% thanks to iPhone 17. Apple gained share YoY.
Global smartphone processor shipments fell 8% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. According to Counterpoint, the main pressure came from an ongoing memory shortage, which is affecting both smartphone production and component demand.
MediaTek held on to the lead with a 32% market share. Qualcomm took second place at 23%, while Apple climbed to 19%, up from 15% a year earlier. Unisoc followed at 14%, Samsung at 7%, and HiSilicon at 4%. The market structure has shifted noticeably: manufacturers more reliant on the mass-market and budget segments faced greater pressure due to memory constraints and inventory buildup.
Apple's chip shipments rose thanks to the launch of the iPhone 17e powered by the A19, along with strong sales of the iPhone 17 series, especially the Pro models across multiple regions. However, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, Apple's share declined from 23%, reflecting the seasonal peak in iPhone sales after the autumn launch.
MediaTek kept the top spot in Q1, but its shipments fell year over year. The memory shortage hit the mass and entry-level segments hardest, and the premium category also saw a slight dip. Within the Dimensity 8000 family, shipments of the Dimensity 8450 grew, supported by demand for the OPPO Reno15.
Qualcomm also reported a decline. In the high-end segment, results were impacted by the delayed launch of the Galaxy S26 series and Samsung's decision to use the Exynos 2600 in base models of the Galaxy S26 in some regions. Additional pressure came from the Snapdragon 600 and Snapdragon 400 series, where memory shortages and accumulated inventory took a toll.
Samsung, on the other hand, boosted Exynos shipments. Growth came from the Galaxy S26 with the Exynos 2600, as well as the mid-range Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37, which use the Exynos 1680 and Exynos 1480 respectively. HiSilicon maintained a 4% share despite lower shipments, while Unisoc grew thanks to its partnership with Redmi and orders for the T7250 and T8300 chips used in LTE and affordable 5G smartphones.
© A. Krivonosov