Smartphone output in the second quarter was the lowest in 13 years

Reuters cited data from market research company Counterpoint Research showing that global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by 11% compared to the same period last year. This is a record low for this period since 2013.

According to Tom's Hardware, the prolonged shortage of DRAM and NAND flash pushes memory chip prices to continuously increase. Currently, semiconductor suppliers prioritize putting resources into the AI ​​data center customer group, a segment with much higher profit margins than the consumer electronics segment. Therefore, mobile companies have to buy high-priced components and pass this cost on to consumers through increasing device prices.

The memory chip crisis does not impact equally but creates clear fragmentation. Among them, the popular and mid-range segments are most severely damaged, due to thin profit margins and sensitivity to production costs. According to Counterpoint, three Chinese representatives including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are suffering the deepest sales decline among the top 5 manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Samsung also decreased in sales but still maintained the number one position globally with 24% market share, thanks to the attraction of the Galaxy S26 series and the ability to ensure a better supply chain. The company also limited price increases in strategic markets such as India and the Middle East.

Apple is the only company that has bucked the market's downward trend as the number of devices shipped still grew by 3% over the same period last year. Thanks to the stable demand of the high-end segment and the strategy of maintaining the same price, Apple increased its market share to 20% last quarter. However, analysts predict that it will be difficult for Apple to maintain this price level and will likely have to adjust it upward in the coming months.

With the supply chain showing no signs of recovery, Counterpoint still maintains its conservative forecast that global smartphone output will decrease by 14% this year.

Experts warn that the memory chip crisis originally originated from a lack of components, but has now turned into a decline in demand due to high equipment prices. The tight supply of memory chips is forecast to last and weigh heavily on the mobile market at least until the end of 2027.