The Apple iPhone 17 ended the second quarter of 2026 as the best-selling smartphone on the planet, capturing 6% of global sales. Counterpoint research. And he didn’t come alone. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max followed closely behind, giving Apple three spots in the top 10.
How did Apple know this again?
This had to happen. The iPhone 17 was probably the best non-Pro iPhone Apple has ever made. Apple packed in enough updates this year to catch up with the Pro models, which clearly worked in its favor. Meanwhile, the Pro and Pro Max relied on trade-ins, promotions and financing options to make the premium pricing feel less painful.
In any case, the rise in the price of smartphones has only encouraged more buyers to these higher-end options. The iPhone 17e also deserves a mention. With MagSafe support and more storage at last year’s price, it’s still a hit in the US and Japan, largely thanks to carrier contracts.
What did Samsung bring to the table?
Samsung has matched Apple with five spots of its own, and the real story here is the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It became the best-selling Android phone of the quarter, an ultra-premium Android device topped the charts for the first time in the June quarter. That’s a five-point jump over its predecessor, helped by a privacy display and AI features that set it apart from the crowd.
The Galaxy A series has also held its own thanks to an affordable price and Samsung’s promise of more than six years of software support, which matters a lot more now that people are sticking with phones longer.
Apple and Samsung combined for 26% of the global market, their highest share ever in a June quarter. With the global RAM shortage squeezing brands everywhere, everyone seems to be betting on fewer, more powerful phones instead of spreading themselves thin.
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