IDC: global smartphone shipments fell 22% in Q3 2026, worst drop on record

Global smartphone shipments crashed in the third quarter of 2026. Citing International Data Corporation (IDC), RIA Novosti reports that the market shipped 255.3 million phones, down 22% from a year earlier — the sharpest year-on-year drop in the research firm's history.

Why shipments fell

IDC links the slump to a memory shortage fueled by AI data-centre demand. Senior research director Nabila Popal said memory costs have risen roughly 350% over the past year and are still climbing, while other key components stay expensive. In her words, quoted by RIA, the worst may still be ahead and the market has not yet hit bottom. IDC expects any meaningful recovery no earlier than 2028.

Separate coverage from Semafor, citing Counterpoint, describes Q3 as the weakest third quarter in 14 years, with buyers keeping phones longer and turning to refurbished devices as prices rise.

Who lost least and most

Samsung stayed first and Apple second; Chinese mid-range brands took larger cuts as costlier memory hit cheaper models hardest.

What it means for buyers

Expect fewer bargain Android phones and higher average prices while DRAM and NAND stay tight. Premium flagships from Samsung and Apple held up better in volume terms, but that does not mean their street prices stayed flat — manufacturers have been passing component costs on.