Phone Shipments Fell 20% as Memory Gets Scarce

Research firm Omdia says global smartphone shipments fell 20% from a year earlier in the third quarter of 2026, to 254.7 million phones, the lowest third-quarter total since 2013 (Omdia, October 29, 2026). Omdia says rising prices weighed on demand, as memory supply stayed tight, and it expects shipments to fall 12% in 2026 and again in 2027, at a slower pace, with further price increases and limited room for holiday discounts. Apple's shipments held flat, Samsung's fell 5%, Xiaomi's 29%, OPPO's 39% and vivo's 33%, Omdia says; Africa fell 39%.