# iPhone-maker Apple led global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2026, growing 5% year-on-year.

*business · news · 2026-04-10 · Deccan Chronicle*

## Key points

- Apple led global smartphone shipments in Q1 2026 for the first time in a first quarter.
- Apple's China smartphone sales surged 23% in the first nine weeks of 2026.
- Global smartphone shipments fell 6% due to memory component shortages and Middle East tensions.
- Memory suppliers prioritized AI data centers over consumer electronics, impacting smartphone availability.
- Samsung's shipments declined 6% due to a delayed Galaxy S26 launch and weak entry-tier sales.

**Companies:** Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi
**Countries:** China

[Read the full story on Deccan Chronicle](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/apple-leads-smartphone-market-even-as-overall-shipments-decline-counterpoint-says-1949669)

---

Canonical: https://newsio.io/n/5cc7877c-2a92-40fb-b484-2a173d5c5697/iphone-maker-apple-led-global-smartphone-shipments-in-the-first-quarter-of-2026
Summarized by Newsio from Deccan Chronicle. https://newsio.io/how-it-works