Apple iPhone sales grow, bucking US smartphone slump: report
▼ Summary
– Apple’s iPhone sales in the US grew 1.3% year-over-year in Q1 2026, while the overall US smartphone market declined by 5.7%.
– Stronger-than-expected demand for the base iPhone 17 and Samsung’s delayed Galaxy S26 launch contributed to Apple’s performance.
– Apple captured 75% of smartphone sales at the Big 3 US carriers in Q1 2026, up from 72% a year earlier.
– Apple kept the iPhone 17e price consistent while increasing entry-level storage to 256GB, even as competitors raised prices due to rising memory costs.
– Apple outpaced Samsung in promotional spending for devices priced $600 and above in US postpaid channels during Q1 2026.
Apple has managed to defy the broader downturn in the U.S. smartphone market during the first quarter of 2026, with iPhone sales climbing 1.3% year-over-year even as the overall market contracted by 5.7%. That’s according to fresh data from Counterpoint Research, which highlights how continued demand for the base iPhone 17 helped Apple buck the industry trend.
The report points to several factors behind Apple’s resilience. One key driver: Samsung delayed the launch of its Galaxy S26 series until mid-March. Historically, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S phones have arrived in January or February every year since 2021. That delay created what Counterpoint calls “somewhat of a vacuum in the premium space for an extra month in Q1,” giving Apple an open lane to capture more high-end buyers.
As a result, Apple’s share of smartphone sales at the Big 3 U. S. carriers jumped to 75% in Q1 2026, up from 72% a year earlier. Notably, Verizon saw the biggest leap, with Apple’s share rising to 77%.
Another advantage came from pricing strategy. While rivals raised prices amid rising memory costs, Apple kept the iPhone 17e price consistent year-over-year and boosted entry-level storage to 256GB. According to Counterpoint, this helped Apple outpace Samsung in promotional intensity for devices priced $600 and above in U. S. postpaid channels. Apple, Motorola, and Google all increased their promotional power in that segment year-over-year, while Samsung declined.
Counterpoint warns that if Apple can avoid significant price hikes and maintain its lead in promotional spending, Android OEMs will face an uphill battle trying to keep pace in the months ahead.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
