However, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra missed the top 10, despite stronger early sales than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with reports noting interest in its new privacy display feature.
Xiaomi takes only non-Apple, non-Samsung spot
Xiaomi’s Redmi A5 was the only model outside Apple and Samsung to make the global top 10, ranking tenth.
Its inclusion shows that ultra-affordable models still have a role in global volume sales, particularly in price-sensitive markets, even as rising costs place pressure on low-end Android manufacturers.
Memory crunch reshapes the market
The report points to a broader shift in the smartphone market, where rising component costs are making it harder for brands to compete in entry-level segments.
Counterpoint previously warned that global smartphone shipments were under pressure from shortages of DRAM and NAND memory, with the squeeze pushing up costs and hitting lower-end devices particularly hard.
That pressure may push consumers towards more established mid-range models or premium devices, benefiting companies with strong brand loyalty, wider distribution and greater pricing power.
Top 10 best-selling smartphones in Q1 2026
- Apple iPhone 17
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy A07 4G
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
- Apple iPhone 16
- Samsung Galaxy A56
- Samsung Galaxy A36
- Samsung Galaxy A17 4G
- Xiaomi Redmi A5
