14-year low: Apple iPhone reaches record market share in 20% smaller smartphone market

What happened

Hannes Brecher ( translated by Hannes Brecher), Published 10/13/2026 🇩🇪 Smartphone According to the latest analysis by Counterpoint Research a total of 20 percent fewer smartphones were shipped in the third quarter of 2026 than in the same period last year. This reportedly brings the market to a 14-year low.

DRAM prices are causing a crisis in the smartphone market – third-quarter smartphone shipments have fallen to their lowest level in 14 years. Although Apple and Samsung are increasing their market shares, higher prices are leading to lower overall smartphone sales. Apple is a software and consumer electronics company based in Cupertino.

14-year low: Apple iPhone reaches record market share in 20% smaller smartphone market ⓘ Onur Binay DRAM prices are causing a crisis in the smartphone market – third-quarter smartphone shipments have fallen to their lowest level in 14 years. Unsurprisingly, the reason is the DRAM crisis, as rising costs for RAM and NAND flash storage are said to have caused the average price of a smartphone to increase by 20 percent. Demand for premium smartphones, on the other hand, remains comparatively stable.