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The latest surfaced US sales update, Counterpoint Research’s Q2 2026 report, says smartphone sales fell 5% year over year. It does not provide brand-level Q2 share figures in the available report summary, so it cannot establish that Samsung disappointed while Apple dominated that quarter. The more specific Apple-versus-Samsung evidence comes from Q1 2026: Apple remained the shipment leader, while Samsung ranked second and declined faster, according to Omdia. Those are shipment figures, not the same measure as Counterpoint’s sales data.
What the latest US smartphone report says
Counterpoint Research’s Q2 2026 US sales release, published August 13, 2026, reports a 5% year-over-year decline in smartphone sales. Sales for the Big Four US OEMs—Apple, Samsung, Motorola and Google—fell 4% combined. Counterpoint cited higher memory prices and macroeconomic pressure on demand, particularly at the low end. Read Counterpoint’s Q2 2026 sales update.
That is a market-wide result, not a ranking of Apple and Samsung. Counterpoint’s quarterly market-share page was published August 31, 2026, and describes a monitor covering smartphone and feature-phone shipments from more than 140 brands, representing more than 97% of total industry device shipments. The available summary does not give Q2 Apple or Samsung shares, so it does not support a precise Q2 brand-share verdict. Counterpoint’s US Smartphone Market Share: Quarterly.
Apple versus Samsung: what Q1 data shows
For Q1 2026, two research firms reported different measures. Counterpoint’s sales data showed US iPhone sales up 1.3% year over year while the overall smartphone market fell 5.7%. That indicates Apple outperformed the market on Counterpoint’s sales measure for that quarter; it is not a statement about Q2 share or shipment growth. Counterpoint’s Q1 sales report.
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Omdia measured shipments. It reported Apple remained the leading US vendor in Q1 despite shipments declining 3%; Samsung was second, with shipments down 5%. Motorola was the only major vendor Omdia said grew, up 18%. These figures make Samsung’s Q1 decline steeper than Apple’s, but they do not establish Q2 performance or prove that a phone is better or worse. Omdia’s Q1 shipment report.
Why the reported numbers differ
Sales, often described as sell-through, and shipments are related but not interchangeable. Sales track devices sold through to customers; shipments track devices sent into the market, including channel inventory. The publishers also use their own tracking methodologies. Compare like with like: same quarter, geography, measure, and whether the figure is a unit change or a market-share percentage.
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Omdia reported 33.4 million US smartphone shipments in Q1 2026, down 3% year over year. It noted that Q1 2025 was an unusually high comparison because vendors and carriers accelerated inventory builds ahead of possible US tariff actions. Its analyst Eric Chen described the Q1 decline as modest rather than a broad demand shock, citing that elevated comparison, selective carrier subsidies, component costs and later device launches. Omdia’s account of those factors.
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Which price ranges were under the most pressure?
Omdia’s Q1 2026 US shipment analysis showed an uneven market rather than a uniform slump:
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| Price band | Year-over-year shipment change |
|---|---|
| Under $300 | Up 8% |
| $300–$599 | Down 19% |
| $600–$799 | Down 6% |
| $800 and above | Down 1% |
The sharpest contraction was in the $300–$599 tier; budget and premium segments were more resilient in Omdia’s figures. This helps explain why aggregate sales or shipments can conceal different conditions across the market, but it does not identify the performance of a particular brand’s devices.
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- For Q2 2026: Counterpoint reported US smartphone sales down 5% year over year and Big Four sales down 4% combined. The available summary does not establish Apple’s or Samsung’s individual Q2 share.
- For Q1 2026 sales: Counterpoint reported iPhone sales growth of 1.3% against a 5.7% overall market decline.
- For Q1 2026 shipments: Omdia placed Apple first and Samsung second, with declines of 3% and 5%, respectively.
Counterpoint’s US model-level page cautions that its sell-through figures are estimates subject to revision. Treat model estimates accordingly, rather than as final audited totals. Counterpoint Market Pulse: Smartphone Sales in the United States.
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- 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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
