In brief
In Q3 2026 Samsung shipped 57.8 million smartphones, topping Apple which shipped 56.5 million, and captured 22.7% of a market that contracted 20% year‑on‑year. Strong sales of the Galaxy A line and a new Z Fold 8 series helped keep Samsung’s share high despite a 5% decline in its own shipments. Apple’s second‑place share remained unchanged from a year earlier.
Samsung Electronics Co. held the top position as the world’s largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter of 2026, shipping 57.8 million devices from July to September, according to industry tracker Omdia.
The number of units Samsung shipped fell 5 percent from the same period a year earlier, but it still outpaced competitors in an industry where total shipments dropped a full 20 percent.
Samsung’s market share for the quarter was 22.7 percent, a sizable portion of a contracting global market.
Omdia attributes Samsung’s resilience to strong sales of its entry‑level and mid‑range Galaxy A series, which filled a market gap left by the overall decline.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8, introduced in August, also contributed a boost in the premium segment, helping Samsung maintain its lead.
Apple Inc. ranked second, shipping 56.5 million smartphones and keeping a 22.2 percent share, unchanged from a year earlier.
These figures show that even as global smartphone shipments fall, Samsung’s diversified product lineup keeps it ahead of rivals in a shrinking market.
