The global smartphone industry experienced an unexpectedly better performance in the second quarter of 2026, driven by short-term demand factors, although overall production remains in decline and experts warn of a fragile recovery.
TrendForce says the global smartphone market performed better than expected in the second quarter of 2026, even though output still fell year on year. The research firm estimates production at 275 million units, down 8% from a year earlier, but less weak than it had previously projected. It has therefore lifted its full-year forecast to 1.07 billion units, from 1.05 billion, and now expects 2026 production to decline 14% rather than 16%.
The improved reading appears to reflect two short-term effects rather than a genuine recovery. TrendForce says some consumers accelerated purchases because they expected memory prices to keep rising and handset prices to follow. At the same time, brands that had cut production too sharply when memory costs spiked are now restoring output as conditions stabilise. The firm warned that this is a temporary pull-forward in demand, not evidence that the market has returned to growth.
Samsung remained the largest maker by output in the quarter, producing about 62 million phones, according to TrendForce. The South Korean group benefited from a later launch cycle for its flagship models and increased its use of ODM partners in lower-end devices to offset expensive memory components. Apple ranked second with roughly 52 million units, up 14% year on year, helped by what TrendForce described as a well-judged pricing approach for the iPhone 17 range. The firm said the pricing of the forthcoming iPhone 18 line will be closely watched.
Among Chinese vendors, OPPO, Xiaomi and vivo took the third to fifth spots, with production of about 30 million, 29 million and 21 million units respectively. TrendForce said these brands have stepped back from aggressive market-share chasing and are focusing more on protecting margins. Huawei’s expansion in China is also squeezing OPPO and vivo, which remain heavily exposed to that market. Transsion, meanwhile, fell to sixth place with just under 20 million units, as its entry-level handset mix and smaller memory stocks left it more vulnerable to the price surge. Omdia’s separate data broadly supports the picture of a divided market, with Samsung and Apple growing while several other major vendors saw steep declines.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
