Apple’s Q1 2026 iPhone sales volume in the US was up 1.3% YoY, outperforming the country’s overall smartphone market, which declined 5.7% YoY, according to Counterpoint’s US Monthly Smartphone Channel Share Tracker. Apple’s share of volume grew by 4% YoY, as Android device sales declined 14.4% YoY. Apple’s success was driven by the iPhone 17 series, which experienced carryover demand from supply limitations in Q4 2025 due to global demand for the latest iPhone lineup. Besides, the base iPhone 17 model saw higher demand than expected, causing Apple to recalibrate its production mix.

Apple also benefited from the later launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series in Q1 2026. Samsung delayed the launch until mid-March this year, leaving somewhat of a vacuum in the premium space for an extra month in Q1. On the impact of the delayed launch, Senior Analyst Tyler Graham said, “The premium smartphone space in the US is highly consolidated compared to some other markets, with Apple, Google, Samsung and, to some extent, Motorola comprising the vast majority of sales here. When one brand delays a flagship launch, it opens a window of opportunity to fill that vacuum. Apple did just that.”

Apple grew its market share in each of the Big 3 US carriers. Its share grew the most at Verizon to 77% in Q1 2026.

Apple Share of Smartphone Sales at Big 3 US Carriers, Q1 2025 vs Q1 2026

Figure 1. Source: Counterpoint's US Monthly Smartphone Channel Share Tracker

The 5.7% YoY decline for the overall US market in Q1 2026 was driven by two main factors: later-than-usual flagship launches and low-end weakness. The first was the delayed launch of both the Galaxy S26 series and the iPhone 17e. The later Galaxy S26 and Apple iPhone 17e launches skewed YoY comps in Q1 and will also impact Q2 comparisons.

As for low-end weakness, Senior Analyst Maurice Klaehne said, “Tax season is a big event for the prepaid space in the US. It helps provide a boost to unit sales in the lower end of the market. This year, that was not the case.” Low-end weakness was driven largely by macroeconomic headwinds. Lower-income households did see tax return increases YoY, albeit not as much as high-income households on a percentage basis. Further, these tax return increases were offset by inflated gas prices, even as many consumers opted to use that money to pay credit card bills. As a result, more money transfers to lower-income households YoY did not translate into the expected lift in smartphone sales in the prepaid segment.

Amid lower overall sales in the low end, especially in the sub-$100 price band, prepaid channel marketing spend is consolidating around Motorola and Samsung. Other players in lower price bands, like TCL and HMD, have put off model refreshes or exited the market or are having a tough time keeping up with the marketing power of Motorola and Samsung. As a result, Motorola and Samsung grew their market share in most prepaid and national retail channels in Q1. Cricket (Samsung +6% points; Motorola +6%points) and Metro (Samsung +2% points; Motorola +7% points) were two channels with significant shifts YoY.

Motorola and Samsung Share of US Smartphone Sales at Prepaid and National Retail, Q1 2025 vs Q1 2026

Figure 2. Source: Counterpoint's US Monthly Smartphone Channel Share Tracker

Consolidation in the low end is expected to continue in the US as rising memory costs impact smaller players like Maxwest, Orbic and Blu, as well as white-label devices. Shrinking margins may force a reduction in portfolio diversity in lower price bands and further push lower-income consumers towards Samsung and Motorola options.

Meanwhile, Apple has maintained its pricing strategy, keeping the iPhone 17e pricing consistent YoY while increasing the entry-level storage to 256GB, even as peers introduce price hikes. With this strategy, Apple hopes to draw more users into its iOS ecosystem, while placing service revenue growth over hardware profitability in the US and elsewhere. This will lead to faster revenue growth through 2027. For OEMs with smaller hardware margins, it will be tough to keep pace with Apple’s consistent pricing and marketing spend at the US carriers. Through Q1 2026, Apple outpaced Samsung in Counterpoint’s average Smartphone Promotional Index scores across devices priced $600 and above in US postpaid channels. Apple increased its promotional power in this segment YoY in Q1, as did Motorola and Google, while Samsung declined. If Apple can avoid significant price increases and continue to outpace its peers in promotional dollars, it will be tough for Android OEMs to keep up in the year ahead.

The North America Handset Channel Share Tracker tracks smartphone and feature phone sales for the US and Canada. It encompasses total market sell-through volumes by model and sales channel for both nations on a monthly basis. The tracker outlines pricing information and specs for each model sold. The sales channels covered include AT&T, Best Buy, T-Mobile, Verizon, Walmart, Bell, Rogers, Telus and more. To learn more about the North America Handset Channel Share Tracker, contact [email protected]

About Counterpoint Research

Counterpoint Research is a global market research firm specializing in products across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of clients – from smartphone OEMs to chipmakers and channel players to Big Tech – through our offices located in the world's major innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers. Our analyst team, led by seasoned experts, engages with stakeholders across the enterprise – from the C-suite to professionals in strategy, analyst relations (AR), market intelligence (MI), business intelligence (BI), product and marketing – to deliver services spanning market data, industry thought leadership and consulting. Our core areas of coverage include AI, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks and Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables. Visit our Insights page to explore our publicly available market data, insights and thought leadership, and to understand our focus, meet our analysts and start a conversation.

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