Omdia: China Smartphone Shipments Fell 1% in First Quarter of 2026 as Rising Costs Pushed Up Device Prices
Mainland China smartphone market shipment, 1Q23 to 1Q26
Mainland China smartphone shipment market share, top vendors, 1Q24 to 1Q26
Lucas Zhong, Senior Analyst at Omdia, added: “Meaningful innovation in flagship and foldable devices is expected to help stabilize overall demand. Advances such as the LOFIC image sensor in Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra series, the near crease-free design of OPPO’s Find N6, and the lightweight design combined with a high-capacity battery in HONOR’s Magic V6 highlight how improvements in peripheral specifications will remain a key theme in product iteration this year. At the same time, AI agent capabilities will be a major focus for leading vendors at the software level. Smartphones remain the ideal platform for AI agents, and for vendors, breakthroughs in AI functionality represent a critical pathway forward. Vendors that can deliver differentiated and practical AI agent experiences will be better positioned to enhance brand perception and establish new strategic advantages.”
“In Q1 2026, the combined market share of the top six vendors - Huawei, Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and HONOR - reached 94%,” Hayden Hou added. “Top vendors hold advantages in supply chains, R&D, OS and services, ecosystems, and distribution. Yet market dynamics demand constant vigilance. Memory volatility and AI’s trajectory will structurally alter the competitive landscape. As rising memory costs continue to bite, Omdia projects that China’s smartphone market will shrink by 10% in 2026.”
(To view the table, please visit https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413266424/en/)
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This news is a press release provided by Omdia.
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