{
  "id": 2527444,
  "title": "Apple shipments expected to decline by 2% in 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/apple-shipments-expected-to-decline-by-2-in-2026",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-22T07:20:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/apple-shipments-expected-to-decline-by-2-in-2026/article71376861.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple's smartphone shipments are projected to decrease by approximately 2.1% in 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. This decline is anticipated to be followed by growth of around 2.8% in the subsequent year. However, the company's resilience is expected to stem from sustained demand for its iPhone 17 series. The firm anticipates potential effects on quarterly demand and channel inventory due to factors such as possible higher launch pricing for the iPhone 18 series and shifts in the launching timelines of Pro and base-model devices in the 2026 and 2027 product cycles. Meanwhile, Samsung's shipments are expected to rise by about 0.8% in 2026, despite the global market's overall decline. This growth is attributed to Samsung's extensive geographic reach, substantial supply chain, and more dependable access to memory and semiconductor supplies. The worldwide smartphone market is projected to decline by 14.3% year-on-year in 2026, primarily due to increased component costs, decreased availability of low-priced devices, and reduced consumer affordability, which will impact demand. This downturn is expected to alter the competitive landscape, with Samsung set to become the dominant global smartphone player by 2026. The market is projected to remain challenging in 2027, with further declines of 1.4% in shipments, followed by a resurgence in 2028. Premium segments are likely to maintain their robust performance, while mass market segments will bear the brunt of the market retreat. Mobile memory and higher chipset prices are identified as the main constraints, with vendors responding by raising prices, reducing lower-margin configurations, and focusing resources on fewer products and priority markets. Leading Chinese smartphone manufacturers are expected to face particularly significant shipment pressure due to their exposure to price-sensitive consumers, mid-range-focused devices, and emerging markets. Across several major Chinese OEMs, shipments are forecast to decline by 15% to 34% in 2026, prompting manufacturers to adopt measures such as reducing memory configurations, using older platforms, raising prices, or discontinuing underperforming products. The pressure on shipments is anticipated to persist into 2027. Following the market recovery in 2028, global smartphone shipments are expected to grow by 4.8% as component availability improves, retail pricing stabilizes, and purchases postponed during 2026 and 2027 are realized. This recovery is likely to favor the largest manufacturers, which are better positioned to secure components, manage financing, and sustain distribution amidst the downturn. Foldable devices and on-device AI are expected to contribute to product differentiation and premiumization, although they are not anticipated to spark a broad shipment supercycle. By the end of the decade, the broader commercialization of 6G-capable devices should facilitate an incremental upgrade cycle, helping the market approach the shipment levels recorded in 2024 and 2025.",
  "summary": "It is expected that Apple may launch their first foldable smartphone in Q3 2026.",
  "key_points": [
    "Apple smartphone shipments expected to decline by 2.1% in 2026",
    "Samsung shipments forecast to rise by 0.8% in 2026",
    "Global smartphone market projected to decline 14.3% in 2026"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}