Global Smartphone Shipments Decline

Worldwide smartphone shipments dropped 20% in the third quarter of 2026, reaching the lowest level since 2012. Counterpoint Research attributes the decline to a memory chip shortage, termed RAMageddon, driven by high demand for AI infrastructure. This supply constraint has caused overall phone prices to rise by 20% this year.

Samsung held a 23% market share during the quarter, while Apple reached 22%. Both companies experienced year-over-year shipment declines.