Apple’s iPhone 17 series led the worldwide smartphone sales in Q1 2026 as the Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed entry in the top 10 chart.

iPhone 17 captured 6 percent of global unit sales to become the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026. Apple seized four spots, Samsung dominated with five, with one going to Xiaomi for its entry level smartphone.

According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Pro were the top 3 best-selling phones in Q1 2026. Samsung dominated the top 10 chart with the highest five entries, but no flagship was included.

Galaxy A07 4G, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A17 4G were the five entries from Samsung world. Xiaomi’s Redmi also managed to enter the list, though in the 10th spot, due to its Redmi 5 phone.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is selling better than its predecessor. Still, none of the flagship models were able to make an entry into the top 10. The reason is the launch window, which favored Apple in the first quarter.

Galaxy S26 series was launched in late February, and worldwide sales began in the second week of March 2026. The first quarter ended on March 31, leaving no significant timespan for the Samsung flagships to sell at scale.

The chart of the second quarter should include at least one model from the Galaxy S26 series. Apple has historically dominated the best-selling segment. Meanwhile, Samsung leads the charge of keeping Android relevant.

Galaxy A07 4G from Samsung was the world’s best-selling Android phone in the first quarter. The device received high contribution from emerging regions like the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Commenting on outlook, Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said, “Looking ahead to 2026, the top 10 smartphone models are expected to expand their share of global unit sales. The anticipated market decline is likely to impact mass-market segments more significantly, while high-end smartphones continue to gain share. In response, OEMs are shifting focus toward premium portfolios, prioritizing value over volume.”

Image – Q1 2026 Top 10 Best Selling Phones | Source – Counterpoint Research

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