Market Outlook - Handset Shipment Forecast by OEM Region, May 2026
Overview
The global smartphone market retreated 3.1% YoY in Q1 2026, marking the first decline after nine consecutive quarters of growth, as the initial impact of memory shortages translated into price increases across regions. The performance was nonetheless better than anticipated, as OEMs moved to get ahead of the memory crunch, with some deploying aggressive inventory clearance tactics ahead of expected price hikes.
Table of Contents
- Assumptions
- Pivot
- Tech Pivot
- Track Changes- Smartphone
- Global
- North America
- Caribbean & Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- Europe (Western Europe / Central & Eastern Europe)
- Asia Pacific (China/India/Japan/Korea/AP Others)
- Flatfile
- Definitions
Published Date: May 2026
Category
Industry
Smartphone
Service
Market Outlook Standard
Report Type
Report
Time Period
Quarterly
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Author
Yang Wang
Yang is a Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Research, based out of London. Yang has 10 years of work experience with particular interest in mobile devices, ecosystems, Emerging Markets, supply chain and macro topics that affect the global technology industry. As a tech analyst he has been quoted extensively by leading financial and media outlets. Yang started his career as a management trainee at Jardine Matheson, worked in business development at a SaaS startup, and most recently held marketing and research roles at KaiOS Technologies. Yang holds a Master of Science in Management from London Business School, and a Master of Science in Psychology from the University College of London.