Apple captured half of global smartphone revenue as iPhone price hit record, report says | 9to5mac
Apple’s revenue share sets record
Counterpoint Research said Apple achieved its strongest share of global smartphone industry revenue for a third calendar quarter. The report, released earlier this week, assessed the market’s performance during Q3 2026.
iPhone prices lift average
Apple’s average selling price reached a record $1,031, according to Counterpoint. That was 19% higher than a year earlier. Research Director Tarun Pathak said the iPhone 18 Pro series helped raise the average, although it launched late in the quarter. He also cited higher launch prices for those models, the lack of a base iPhone 18 at launch and September price increases on older models.
Shipment gap narrows slightly
Samsung continued to lead global smartphone shipments, accounting for 22% of the market. Apple followed closely at 21%, leaving Samsung’s advantage slightly smaller than before. Pathak said Apple’s shipments were nearly unchanged year over year and described the company as resilient. He also said Apple could absorb rising memory costs and pass them to customers with limited effect on demand.
Key points
- Apple posted its highest-ever share of global smartphone revenue for a third quarter.
- Its average selling price reached $1,031, up 19% year over year.
- Samsung held 22% of shipment share, compared with Apple’s 21%.
- Counterpoint said Apple’s shipments were nearly flat year over year.