Analytics firm Counterpoint Research has published its latest report on the best-selling smartphones on the global market. For the second quarter of 2026 (April–June), Apple retained its key positions in the ranking, while Samsung demonstrated a notable narrowing of the gap thanks to its flagship Galaxy S26 series and affordable A-line devices. As a result, the battle for leadership between the two biggest players has become even more intense, although the top spot remains firmly held by the base iPhone 17 model.
iPhone 17 Strengthens Its Lead
According to the experts, the base iPhone 17 model showed significant growth in market share compared to last year's iPhone 16 figure. The base iPhone 17 captured 6 percent of total global sales, whereas the iPhone 16 in the same period last year held only 4 percent. Analysts attribute this growth to a key display upgrade: instead of the previous 60 Hz, the new base model uses a 120 Hz refresh rate OLED screen, making the device more appealing to the mass market.
Five Apple Models in the Top Ten
In total, Apple secured five positions in the top ten best-selling smartphones. In addition to the leading base iPhone 17, the top 10 included the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, the more affordable iPhone 17e, which took seventh place, and the iPhone 16, which landed in tenth position. Such concentration of models from a single brand at the top of the ranking underscores the breadth of the company's product line and its ability to cover different price segments.
Samsung Narrows the Gap
Unlike last year, the Xiaomi brand did not make the top 10 this time, which allowed Samsung to reinforce its position. In the premium segment, the Galaxy S26 Ultra took fourth place in the ranking, sitting right behind the iPhone 17 Pro, while the more compact Galaxy S26 model came in ninth. Absolute dominance in the budget and mid-range classes is held by the Galaxy A series: the most popular device during the April–June period was the Galaxy A07 4G, followed by the Galaxy A17 5G and Galaxy A17 4G. Notably, despite its modest technical specifications — a 720p+ LCD display and a MediaTek Helio G99 processor — the Galaxy A07 4G model received a guarantee of six full Android operating system updates, which is a unique offer for its price category.
The quarter's outcome was Apple retaining its status as the leader of the global smartphone market while Samsung's competitive position strengthened. The absence of Xiaomi from the top ten further shifted the balance in favor of the Korean brand, which now relies on both its flagship and mass-market lines.
