While global smartphone shipments fell to their lowest quarterly level since Q3 2012, Apple and Samsung both managed to capture well over a fifth of the market.
Though it remains to be seen whether the iPhone 18 Pro will be as big of a success as Apple hopes, the company is seemingly moving in the right direction In its Q3 2026 financial report, Apple revealed that iPhone revenue rose to $54.25 billion, up 21.7% from $44.58 billion in Q3 2025.
Now, a report from Counterpoint Research has put this success into perspective. It offers a good idea of how iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro shipments factored into the global smartphone market as a whole throughout Q3 2026.
Due to the ongoing industry-wide RAM shortage, worldwide smartphone shipments reportedly saw a 20% decrease year-over-year. Even so, the market was dominated by Apple and Samsung, and both companies managed to increase their market share.
According to Monday's report, iPhones accounted for 22% of all global smartphone shipments, falling only behind Samsung shipments at 23%. Though the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are priced higher than its respective predecessors, both models reportedly saw a stronger launch in China and India.
Other smartphone manufacturers, meanwhile, were seemingly not as successful. Xiaomi's market share dropped to just 10%, down from 14% in Q3 2025. Oppo and Vivo held 9% and 8% of the market, respectively, down from 12% and 9% in the preceding year.
Overall, the iPhone seems to be doing better than ever, even with the absence of the base model iPhone 18. We also have yet to see how the iPhone Duo will affect Apple's position in the global smartphone market, as the foldable iPhone won't reach consumers before October 23, 2026.
