US Smartphone Shipments by Vendor in Q2 2026: Apple Maintains Dominance Despite Slipping Share
In its latest report, Counterpoint Research has revealed the US smartphone shipment numbers for the second quarter of 2026. While Samsung's Galaxy S26 series was widely praised globally, the Korean tech giant failed to make an appearance in the top spots in the US market, according to Counterpoint's data.
US Smartphone Shipments by Vendor in Q2 2026: Apple Maintains Dominance Despite
In contrast, Apple continues to reign supreme in the American smartphone landscape, with its iPhones accounting for more than half of all devices shipped in the country during Q2 2026. This represents a slight decline from the 58% market share the company held in Q1 2026, but still leaves Apple far ahead of its closest competitor, Samsung.
Samsung did experience significant growth, increasing its shipments by 6% compared to Q2 2025. However, this was not enough to dislodge Apple from the top spot. In fact, Samsung's sales volume in the US actually decreased by 5% year-over-year, as noted in Counterpoint's previous report.
The discrepancy between the two sets of numbers highlights the importance of distinguishing between sales and shipments. While end-user purchases may have declined, manufacturers likely shipped more devices to carriers and retailers in anticipation of future demand and to mitigate the impact of rising component costs.
These cost increases, which are expected to worsen in the coming months, have prompted smartphone makers like Samsung and Apple to delay price hikes for as long as possible. This strategy is likely to continue, with the companies focusing on maintaining market share rather than maximizing profit margins in the short term.
In the US, Apple's dominance is unlikely to be challenged in the near future. The company's market share may fluctuate slightly, but it will remain the clear leader in the smartphone space. Samsung, on the other hand, will need to continue its growth trajectory to close the gap with its American rival.