The demand for smartphones worldwide increased by 1 % in the first quarter of 2026.

Quarter‑1 2024 Global Smartphone Supply Overview

Key Takeaways
1. Overall Growth in Shipments
According to analytics firm Omdia, global smartphone shipments rose by 1 % during the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, despite ongoing memory‑chip shortages. A total of 298.5 million devices were shipped.

2. Positive Momentum Driven by Stockpiles
The growth is attributed to manufacturers preemptively increasing smartphone inventories in anticipation of higher component prices. This helped mitigate the impact of memory scarcity and sustain demand.

3. Samsung Remains Market Leader
Samsung again topped the charts, shipping 65.4 million units (+8 % YoY). Galaxy S26 models served as “growth pilots,” while new A‑series devices (A37, A57) strengthened brand presence and secured a 22 % share.

4. Apple Maintains Steady Growth
Apple holds second place with 60.4 million smartphones (~20 % market share). Shipments grew by 10 %, driven by the iPhone 17 lineup—including the 17e—and flagship 17 Pro/Pro Max models. Notable gains were seen in China (+42 %) and Europe/Japan.

5. Xiaomi Sees Decline but Remains Significant
Xiaomi shipped 33.8 million units (11 % share), marking its largest YoY drop among the top five (-19 %). Despite the decline, the company remains a key player in the global market.

6. Oppo and Vivo Hold Steady Positions
Oppo delivered 30.7 million smartphones (10 %) to secure fourth place, while Vivo shipped 21.3 million units (7 %). Both brands maintained their shares without major changes.

Forecast for H2 2024
Omdia predicts “minor corrections” following a period of aggressive inventory buildup. Key factors that could slow market growth include:

- Excess inventory in distribution channels;
- Weak consumer interest in new models.

These trends may affect shipment dynamics and pricing in the second half of the year.