Is Xiaomi the only Chinese brand in the top 10?

Yes, Xiaomi is the only Chinese brand in the top 10 list. The Redmi A5 in tenth place confirms Xiaomi's strength in the global budget smartphone segment.

Why is the iPhone Air missing from the best-sellers list?

The iPhone Air targets a specific audience that values thinness and comes with compromises in camera and battery. The vast majority of buyers prefer the standard iPhone 17 which offers a better balance of price and features for the broader market.

Does the Galaxy A07 compete with iPhone 17 in the same tier?

No — the Galaxy A07 4G is a budget phone starting around $100-150, while the iPhone 17 starts at $799. The segments are entirely different, but the massive volume of Galaxy A07 sales reflects the scale of emerging market demand versus the premium segment.

Is iPhone 17 demand stronger than iPhone 16 was?

The iPhone 17 posted double-digit year-over-year growth in key markets, indicating meaningfully stronger performance than the iPhone 16 at the same point in its lifecycle.

What are the market forecasts for the rest of 2026?

Rising memory prices and cost pressures are squeezing Android manufacturers in the budget segment. Counterpoint projects the overall market may shrink in 2026, with premium devices continuing to gain share as manufacturers shift resources upmarket.

iPhone 17 World's Best-Selling Smartphone in Q1 2026 with 6% Global Share and Triple Sales Growth in South Korea

iPhone 17 World's Best-Selling Smartphone in Q1 2026

Apple's iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2026, capturing 6 percent of worldwide unit sales, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker.

Apple Dominates the Top Three

The iPhone 17 series dominated the top three spots, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in second place and the iPhone 17 Pro in third. The previous-generation iPhone 16 also held on at sixth place, suggesting there's still strong demand for the model.

Why Did the Standard iPhone 17 Beat the Pro Max?

Counterpoint senior analyst Harshit Rastogi credited the iPhone 17's success to upgrades that brought the base model closer to the Pro variants, including higher 256GB base storage, improved cameras, and a faster 120Hz display refresh rate.

This is typical for iPhone: after new models debut in September, enthusiasts and Apple fans rush for the latest premium models first. That demand dies down early the following year, and the sales trend shifts toward the more affordable models.

Geographic Performance

The iPhone 17 posted double-digit year-over-year growth in key markets like China and the US, and tripled its sales in South Korea for the quarter.

Top 10 Best-Selling Smartphones Globally Q1 2026

The complete ranking: 1. iPhone 17, 2. iPhone 17 Pro Max, 3. iPhone 17 Pro, 4. Samsung Galaxy A07 4G, 5. Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, 6. iPhone 16, 7. Samsung Galaxy A56, 8. Samsung Galaxy A36, 9. Samsung Galaxy A17 4G, 10. Xiaomi Redmi A5.

Samsung Galaxy A — Budget Tier Strength

Samsung didn't hold any of the top three spots but the Galaxy A series captured five positions in the top 10, confirming its dominance in the affordable phone segment. The Galaxy A07 4G was the best-selling Android smartphone, driven by strong demand in emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Notable Observations

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed the top 10 list, though it recorded stronger initial sales than its predecessor, supported by the privacy display and AI feature upgrades.

The iPhone Air was absent from the Q1 2026 top 10 just as it was missing from the Q4 2025 list.

The top 10 smartphones accounted for 25% of all global smartphone sales — the highest concentration ever recorded for a first quarter.