This Samsung Model is the World's Top Seller, Overtaking iPhone
A report from Smart Analytics Global places the Samsung Galaxy A series as the number one smartphone product family in the world during the second quarter of 2026. This achievement surpassed Apple’s iPhone 17 series, which ranked second.
The report noted that the Samsung A series shipped 18% of global smartphones, representing an 11% growth, according to data released on Monday (21/09/2026).
The Galaxy A17 5G emerged as the flagship model within this series. Strong sales volumes were also recorded across other models, including the Galaxy A16 4G, A56 5G, A17 4G, and A07 5G.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 series recorded a market share of 16%, with a year-on-year growth of 24%. The report revealed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Pro were the best-selling models globally in terms of shipment databases for the second quarter. Specifically, the iPhone 17 Pro Max was well-received in key premium markets, including the US and China.
The iPhone 17e was also reported as a significant contributor, with the budget-friendly iPhone model performing well in the US and Japanese markets.
Samsung and Apple also contributed another series to the report. The Samsung Galaxy S series and the iPhone 16 series ranked 4th and 5th respectively, each holding a 4% market share. However, in terms of growth, the Galaxy S series recorded a decline of 18% compared to last year, while the iPhone 16 series grew by 22%.
The third position was held by Xiaomi’s Redmi series, which achieved a 7% market share despite a 17% decline in growth.
Linda Sui, Founder and Chief Analyst at Smart Analytics Global (SAG), stated that these results demonstrate two different strategies for winning in a difficult smartphone market. For instance, with the A-series, Samsung is protecting volume and market share, even at the expense of profitability.
On the other hand, Apple is benefiting from strong demand for premium products.
“However, dynamics could change in the second half of 2026. Higher prices for the iPhone 16 and 17 series could suppress demand, particularly in emerging markets, while the new iPhone 18 Pro series faces difficult comparisons with last year,” she explained.