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iPhone 17 Tops Q1 2026 Smartphone Sales as Apple Sweeps the Top Three

The rankings point to a tilt toward premium models driven by rising memory costs.

Overview

  • Counterpoint Research said Monday the iPhone 17 led global unit sales in Q1 2026 with a 6% share, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro.
  • The top 10 models accounted for 25% of phones sold in the quarter, a Q1 record that shows demand concentrating in fewer devices.
  • Samsung filled five top-10 places with Galaxy A budget and midrange phones, led by the A07 4G that sells well in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa and offers six years of software support.
  • Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed the top 10 but logged stronger early sales than the S25 Ultra thanks to new AI features and a privacy display.
  • Analysts say the iPhone 17’s upgrades—higher base storage, a 120Hz screen and better cameras—pulled it closer to the Pro line, and they expect top-model share to keep rising in 2026 as memory shortages raise component costs.