New Delhi–Global smartphone shipments fell 11 percent year over year in the April-June quarter, marking the weakest second-quarter performance since 2013, according to a new report.
Preliminary estimates from Counterpoint Research showed that rising DRAM and NAND prices weighed heavily on the industry as memory suppliers continued prioritizing demand from AI data centers over consumer electronics.
Higher component costs forced smartphone manufacturers to raise prices repeatedly, particularly for entry-level and mid-range devices, the report said.
Samsung regained the top position globally with a 24 percent market share and posted the strongest growth among the five largest brands. The company performed relatively well in India and the Middle East, supported by stronger product availability, fewer price increases and aggressive summer promotions.
Apple’s shipments rose 3 percent from a year earlier, while its market share reached a record 20 percent. The company was also the only major smartphone manufacturer to avoid price increases during the quarter.
“The global memory crisis has now overtaken every other factor as the single biggest drag on the smartphone industry. What started as a components issue last year is now a full-blown demand issue. The entry and mid-tier devices, which account for a majority of the world’s smartphone volumes and are the most exposed to BOM economics, become structurally unfeasible at previous price points,” said senior analyst Shilpi Jain.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also pushed up oil and shipping costs, adding further pressure to smartphone prices.
Counterpoint said weaker global growth, higher inflation and low consumer confidence were hitting price-sensitive buyers particularly hard.
The firm expects global smartphone shipments to decline about 14 percent for all of 2026, with the memory shortage likely to continue into 2027. (Source: IANS)
