Institution: Smartphone AP-SoC Shipments Down 8% YoY in Q12026

The latest report from Counterpoint Research shows that persistent memory supply shortages caused global smartphone SoC shipments to decline 8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. By vendor, MediaTek led the quarter with a 32% share, followed by Qualcomm at 23%, Apple at 19%, UNISOC at 14%, Samsung at 7%, and HiSilicon at 4%. Vendor performance diverged in the first quarter. MediaTek's shipments in the mainstream and entry-level markets were affected by continued memory shortages, compounded by pressure in the high-end market, leading to an overall year-on-year decline in shipments. Qualcomm saw its chip shipments decline year-on-year in the first quarter due to multiple factors including memory shortages, inventory buildup, the delay of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series, and Samsung's use of its own chips. Apple, benefiting from the launch of the iPhone 17e series and increased sales of the iPhone 17 series (especially the Pro models), saw its chip shipments increase in the first quarter.