Global smartphone SoC shipments fell 21% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary data from Counterpoint Research. The report, dated October 30 and updated on November 3, 2026, points to rising memory costs, longer replacement cycles and more cautious inventory management by handset makers as the main drivers of the decline.
The mid-range and entry-level segments were hit hardest: manufacturers cut back entry-level models and prioritized protecting margins. The premium segment was also affected, though to a lesser extent, and Apple and Samsung proved more resilient, supported by integrated supply chains and an established shift toward premium devices.
Who lost and who gained share
In market share, MediaTek fell from 34% to 28%, Qualcomm slipped from 25% to 22% and UNISOC moved from 14% to 13%. In the opposite direction, Apple rose from 17% to 21% — approaching Qualcomm — and Samsung advanced from 6% to 8%. The “others” category also grew, from 4% to 8%.
For Qualcomm, Counterpoint also cites a specific factor: Samsung split Galaxy S26 supply between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and its own Exynos 2600, amid softer sales among Chinese handset makers.
What to watch in the fourth quarter
One point to watch in the fourth quarter is the trio of September 2026 flagship chip launches, all based on TSMC's 2 nm process: Apple's A20 series, MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series. According to senior analyst Shivani Parashar, these launches should boost premium smartphone SoC shipments in the fourth quarter, but volumes are still likely to remain below fourth-quarter 2025 levels.
Memory prices, meanwhile, slowed: growth was 5% to 10% in the third quarter versus the second, with a further 5% expected in the fourth quarter. For the full year, Counterpoint projects a 20% decline in smartphone SoC shipments in 2026 and a further 3% to 4% drop in 2027, according to principal analyst Soumen Mandal.
Image credit: market-share chart by Counterpoint Research, published in the “Global Smartphone SoC Shipments Tracker, Q3 2026” report.
Editorial classification: CONFIRMED, based on preliminary data released by Counterpoint Research.
Transparency: this article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence, cross-checking public posts and internet sources. The data are preliminary figures released by Counterpoint Research; consult the original sources to verify the numbers and the full context.
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