Global smartphone shipments fall 20% in Q3, lowest since 2012, on memory shortage

Centre · 2Global smartphone shipments fell 20 per cent year on year in the third quarter, their lowest third-quarter level since 2012, according to preliminary estimates from Counterpoint Research published on Monday 12 October. 1 2 Centre · 2The decline is attributed to soaring memory chip costs and supply shortages, which raised production costs and led manufacturers to lift retail prices. 1 2 Centre · 1CNA, citing Counterpoint, said AI infrastructure projects cornering memory supplies are behind the price rises, and that manufacturers are cutting shipments and prioritising profitability over volumes. 1

Centre · 1Computerworld reports that, according to Counterpoint, global smartphone prices have risen by about 20% in 2026. 2 Centre · 1Counterpoint senior analyst Shilpi Jain said consumers are holding on to their devices longer than estimated, increasingly considering refurbished devices and prioritising higher-value ones. 1 Centre · 2Samsung kept the top spot with a 23 per cent market share, helped by demand for its Galaxy Z Fold8 series and stable component supplies for mid-range devices, though its shipments fell 3 per cent from a year earlier. 1 2

Centre · 2Apple's share reached 22 per cent, the first time it has passed 20 per cent in a third quarter, despite a year-on-year drop in shipments; Counterpoint said the absence of a base iPhone 18 model meant a smaller launch-month channel fill than the full iPhone 17 lineup a year earlier. 1 2 Centre · 1OPPO and vivo shipments fell by more than 20 per cent, while Xiaomi's fell by more than 30 per cent, cutting its share to 10 per cent as it reduced exposure to lower-priced devices and some overseas markets to protect margins. 1 Centre · 1Counterpoint does not expect a clear recovery in the mobile market for the rest of the year, according to Computerworld. 2