US Smartphone Shipments Fall 3% to 33.4 Million in 1Q26 as Midrange Demand Weakens
Updated
Updated · Informa PLC · May 27
US Smartphone Shipments Fall 3% to 33.4 Million in 1Q26 as Midrange Demand Weakens
3 articles · Updated · Informa PLC · May 27
33.4 million US smartphones shipped in 1Q26, down 3% from a year earlier, with Omdia saying the drop reflected a modest slowdown rather than a broad demand shock.
An elevated 1Q25 inventory build ahead of possible tariffs, tighter carrier upgrade support, higher memory and storage costs, and delayed launches all weighed on volumes.
Apple kept the top spot despite a 3% decline, helped by Samsung’s delayed Galaxy S26 launch; Samsung shipments fell 5%, while Motorola was the only major vendor to grow, up 18%.
The market split sharply by price tier: devices above $800 slipped 1% and sub-$300 models grew 8%, but the $300-$599 segment dropped 19% as selective subsidies squeezed Android midrange phones.
Omdia expects full-year 2026 US smartphone shipments to fall 4%, with carriers still cushioning rising prices through financing and promotions but facing questions over how long that can last.
As the mid-range market collapses, can Android survive being squeezed between budget phones and premium iPhones?
Will AI-native features convince you to upgrade, or are consumers happy keeping their phones for longer?
With carriers offering 'free' phones, are consumers unknowingly paying more through inflated service plans?