All articles tagged with #counterpoint research
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max achieved a 12% year-over-year sales increase in China during their launch week, securing the top market share position despite a broader 17% decline in the country's smartphone sector.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have achieved a dominant market position in China, securing 33% share in the week of September 14-20. This surge, which outperformed the previous generation by 12%, propelled Apple to the number one spot in the world's largest smartphone market despite a broader industry decline.
Global foldable shipments are forecast to exceed 100 million by end-2026, driven by Apple’s iPhone Ultra and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Counterpoint Research projects Samsung to hold about 38% of shipments, Apple around 25%, and Huawei about 22%, with Apple potentially narrowing Samsung’s lead in 2027 and shipping roughly 6 million iPhone Ultras during the early availability window.
Counterpoint predicts foldable smartphones will top 100 million shipments this year, with Apple’s iPhone Ultra driving a substantial market share and potentially becoming the dominant player within the next year; the foldables segment is currently about 2% of the market but is expected to grow quickly (roughly 24% this year and 37% next), as brands including Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Motorola, Honor, Google, Vivo, and Oppo launch new models.
Xiaomi and Huawei unveiled new foldable phones ahead of Apple’s expected foldable iPhone reveal, with Counterpoint predicting Apple could ship about 6 million foldables this year and capture roughly 25% of the global market (potentially rising to 40% by 2027). Samsung remains the global leader, while Huawei dominates China’s foldable market; both Chinese firms tout in-house chips (Xiaomi’s XRing O3 and Huawei’s LogicFolding) to boost their devices.
Counterpoint Research’s Q2 2026 data show Apple continuing to dominate global smartphone sales, led by the iPhone 17 with a 6% share and an all-Apple podium including the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro; Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra marks the first Android flagship to top the Android rankings, entering the top four. The top 10 is exclusively Apple and Samsung devices and accounts for about 26% of global sales. The report also notes iPhone 17e’s MagSafe/storage upgrades and mentions Apple’s leadership transition, with Tim Cook stepping down on Sept 1 and John Ternus taking over, ahead of a Sept 9 event anticipated to unveil iPhone 18 Pro models and a foldable.
Counterpoint Research's Q2 2026 global market-share report shows the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was the top-selling Android phone, marking the first time an ultra-premium device led Android sales in a quarter; the Galaxy S26 and several Galaxy A models also appeared on the list, while iPhones dominated the overall top three.
Counterpoint forecasts a close 2026 race with Samsung slightly ahead, but Apple’s 2027 iPhone 18 launch could give Apple the edge in 2027 by about 0.5%, with a rebound expected in 2028 as the market stabilizes.
Apple bucked the global smartphone downturn, holding about a 51% market share while Samsung trails at around 40%, according to Counterpoint Research, highlighting strong iPhone demand.
Counterpoint Research finds the Galaxy Z Fold 8 leading in multiple markets, with the passport‑style Z Fold 8 accounting for roughly 70% of pre-orders in South Korea, about 50% in the US, and around 40% in Europe, along with strong showings in Japan, Southeast Asia, and China; the Z Fold 8 Ultra leads in India. Overall, the lineup is projected to double the Z Fold 7’s shipments in the first year and grow more than 70% versus the Z Fold 6, signaling a potential turning point for Samsung's foldables.
Global PC shipments fell 4% year-over-year to about 65 million in Q2 2026, ending a growth streak dating to early 2025, as elevated DRAM/NAND prices driven by AI data-center demand squeeze margins; Counterpoint Research and IDC foresee further declines for 2026 (about 11.3% full-year drop, with Q4 down as much as 20%). ASUS was the sole major brand to grow (+4%), while Lenovo, Dell, and HP dropped up to 9% and Apple’s MacBook shipments rose 13% on the strength of the budget MacBook Neo. Analysts say the RAM shortage is pushing the market toward premium AI PCs and relief isn’t expected before 2027, prompting some buyers with aging PCs to upgrade sooner.
Counterpoint Research estimates the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s bill of materials could rise by nearly $300 versus the iPhone 17 Pro Max, driven by higher NAND and DRAM costs amid AI memory demand and the switch to a 2nm A20 Pro chip; display and other components may offset some of the increase, while Apple is expected to raise prices on higher-capacity storage models, with the lineup launching in the fall alongside rumors of a foldable iPhone.
Counterpoint Research estimates the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 1TB BOM will jump by nearly $300 due to rising NAND and DRAM costs, with the 2nm SoC packaging as a major driver; display and other parts may fall while camera costs rise slightly with new tech. Apple is expected to raise prices by about $200 on average across storage variants, leading to slimmer margins this year.
Counterpoint Research forecasts foldable smartphones will average about $1,485 in 2026 (up 18% from 2025), driven by higher-priced book-type models like the anticipated iPhone Fold; clamshells are expected to lose ground while premium foldables around $1,600–$2,000 grow, with top-tier devices potentially reaching $2,500–$3,000, a trend Apple’s entry could amplify across the high-end segment.
Counterpoint Research expects foldable smartphone panel shipments to rise about 24% in 2026 with roughly 48% revenue growth, aided by Apple’s entry into the foldable market; Q1 2026 shipments fell 7% year over year due to inventory controls and fewer launches. Rumors suggest Samsung Display will be the sole supplier for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, helping drive momentum as in-fold designs move toward mainstream.