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Yes—by global smartphone shipments, Samsung remains the biggest Android phone maker. IDC’s finalized Q2 2026 worldwide table puts Samsung first among all vendors, with 22.7% share. Google Pixel is growing faster, but its growth rate does not mean it is close to Samsung’s shipment scale.
What the latest shipment rankings show
IDC’s finalized worldwide table for Q2 2026 records Samsung at 62.7 million smartphone shipments and 22.7% global share. Apple followed at 55.7 million and 20.2%. IDC’s figures cover new branded-device shipments, excluding refurbished units. IDC’s smartphone market-share table is the clearest figure here because it is finalized rather than preliminary.
Omdia’s preliminary Q2 2026 release also described Samsung as the largest smartphone vendor, at 22% share, but Omdia notes that validated results supersede that release. Its figure is useful as corroboration, not as a substitute for IDC’s final number. Omdia’s preliminary Q2 release attributes Samsung’s showing to resilient demand and supply availability.
Samsung leads Android, but Apple can lead the overall market
“Biggest Android phone maker” and “biggest smartphone vendor” are different claims. Android-vendor leadership excludes Apple, which uses iOS. For the full year 2025, Counterpoint named Apple the overall market leader and Samsung second, with Samsung holding 19% global share. That annual result is a separate period from IDC’s Q2 2026 table, so the percentages should not be read as a direct quarter-to-year comparison. Counterpoint’s 2025 shipment report provides the annual context.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
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Pixel is growing, not yet matching Samsung’s scale
Counterpoint reported that Google’s shipments grew 25% year over year in 2025, while Google remained outside the global top five. Samsung’s shipments grew 5% year over year in the same annual snapshot. Those rates describe how quickly shipments changed, not how many phones each company shipped: a smaller vendor can grow faster and still remain far behind a larger one in total volume.
| Measure | Samsung | Google Pixel |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 global share or ranking | 19% share; second overall, according to Counterpoint | Outside the top five; Counterpoint did not state a share in the cited report |
| 2025 shipment growth | 5% year over year, according to Counterpoint | 25% year over year, according to Counterpoint |
| Q2 2026 global standing | First overall with 22.7% share in IDC’s finalized table | IDC’s cited table does not establish a Pixel ranking or share here |
The comparison is about shipments, not customer satisfaction, phone quality, software preference, or cultural recognition. These global totals also do not show which brand leads in a particular country.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Why Samsung can stand in for Android in a shipment-based answer
Samsung’s position is supported by scale across a broad Galaxy lineup, rather than by a single flagship alone. The company announced that its Galaxy S26 series was globally available from March 11, 2026. That flagship is one current example of Samsung’s range, but its availability does not itself explain or prove the company’s market share. Samsung’s availability announcement is the company’s own statement.
Calling Samsung “the face of Android” is therefore defensible as shorthand for the Android maker with the largest global shipment scale in the cited data. It is not a measured finding about what consumers recognize or think of first. Shipment rankings show sales volume and share as reported by analysts; they cannot establish a universal brand association or a winner in every market.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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