IDC projects a record 16.7% drop in global smartphone shipments to just over 1 billion units in 2026, though total market value will still grow 6.3% to $613 billion as average selling prices surge 27.6% to $581.
While Android shipments contract 24.3%, market leaders Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Samsung, and Huawei are best positioned to navigate the downturn—with Apple’s iOS market share expected to gain nearly four percentage points, reaching a record 23.6%.
The memory shortage is driving much of the disruption. NAND and DRAM costs have risen more than 300% year over year, and IDC expects memory prices to remain elevated until at least 2028.
IDC Vice President Francisco Jeronimo said vendors are increasingly passing those higher costs on to consumers as they lose the ability to absorb them.
Apple Gains Share As Android Retreats From Entry-Level Phones
