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Apple’s iPhone 17 tops the world’s best-selling smartphones for the second quarter of 2026. The model captures 6% of global unit sales. Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker places the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro next.
Apple and Samsung each claim five positions in the top 10. Together, these models account for 26% of worldwide smartphone sales. That marks the highest share for the top 10 in any April–June quarter.
The ranking covers individual models, including separate entries for the Galaxy A17’s 4G and 5G versions. Apple’s entries include both its latest generation and the older iPhone 16.
Meanwhile, manufacturers focused on premium phones and models that sell in large numbers amid a global memory chip shortage. Counterpoint’s separate market report records an 11% annual decline in smartphone shipments during the quarter. The preliminary figures put second-quarter shipments at their lowest level since 2013. Rising component costs put particular pressure on cheaper devices.
Memory suppliers prioritized demand from artificial intelligence data centres over consumer electronics, the market report said. Some manufacturers raised prices, while others extended the lifespan of older models or reduced launches and production.
Apple’s overall smartphone unit sales rose 5% from a year earlier, according to Counterpoint senior analyst Karn Chauhan. The company sold more iPhones in India, Japan, the Middle East and Africa. Sales in South Korea nearly doubled.
Chauhan links demand for the standard iPhone 17 to upgrades that reduced differences with the Pro models. Apple added a display with smoother scrolling and doubled starting storage to 256GB. The company launched the base model at $799 in the United States.
Meanwhile, trade-in deals, promotions and financing supported demand for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. “Rising smartphone prices also pushed consumers towards the higher-end segments,” Chauhan said.
Additionally, the iPhone 17e introduced MagSafe support and more storage without increasing its starting price. Apple launched the iPhone 17e with 256GB at $599 in the United States. MagSafe supports wireless charging and connects the phone to magnetic cases, wallets and other accessories. Carrier promotions supported demand in the United States and Japan, according to Counterpoint.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra became the best-selling Android phone during the quarter. Counterpoint says no ultra-premium Android model had previously led Android sales in an April–June period.
The Ultra ranked five places above its predecessor’s position in the comparable 2025 quarter. Counterpoint senior analyst Harshit Rastogi said the series’ later launch moved more purchases into the second quarter.
He added that the Ultra “accounted for more than half of the series' sales.” Rastogi also cited the phone’s privacy display and artificial intelligence features.
Samsung increased flagship promotions and directed resources toward these models to limit revenue losses amid rising costs.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy A07 and Galaxy A17 models attracted buyers through lower prices and broad availability. All three Galaxy A entries offer at least six years of software support. Counterpoint links these support periods to consumers keeping their phones for longer.
