According to DIGITIMES' observations and statistical analysis, there were no nationwide shopping promotions in the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2026, during which markets outside of China were entering the off-season with weakening demand.
Overall smartphone shipments by Chinese vendors declined to 153.3 million units, a decrease of 18.3% quarter-on-quarter and a decrease of 10.6% year-on-year. Smartphone shipments in the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2026 arrived at 72 million units, a decrease of 5.4% quarter-on-quarter and a decrease of 0.7% compared with the same period in 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, the top seven Chinese smartphone brands in terms of shipments were Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Transsion, Huawei, Honor, and Lenovo. Chinese vendors saw shipments to overseas smartphone markets weaken in the first quarter of 2026.
Chart 1: Key factors affecting the 1H26 China smartphone industry
Chart 2: China smartphone industry shipments, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 7: China smartphone industry's export shipments, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 8: Export shipments by Chinese vendor, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 10: China smartphone industry shipments, 2021-2026 (m units)
Chart 11: Key factors affecting 1H26 China smartphone shipments
Chart 12: China smartphone market shipments, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 13: China smartphone market shipments ? international and local brands, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 14: China smartphone market share ? international and local brands, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 15: China smartphone market shipments, by China-based players, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 16: China smartphone market shipment share, by China-based players, 4Q24-2Q26
Chart 17: China smartphone market shipment growth by quarter by China-based players, 4Q24-2Q26
Chart 18: International brand smartphone shipments in China market, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 19: China smartphone market shipments by international brands, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 20: China smartphone market shipment share by international brands, 4Q24-2Q26
Chart 21: China smartphone market quarterly shipment growth by international brands, 4Q24-2Q26
Chart 22: China smartphone market shipments by all vendors, 4Q24-2Q26 (m units)
Chart 23: China smartphone market shipment share by all vendors, 4Q24-2Q26
Chart 24: China telecom carriers' overall subscribers, 1Q25-1Q26 (m users)
Chart 25: China telecom carriers' increased subscriber, 1Q25-1Q26 (m users)
Chart 26: China telecom carriers' 5G subscribers, 1Q25-1Q26 (m users)
Chart 27: China telecom carriers' increased 5G subscribers, 1Q25-1Q26 (m users)
Chart 28: China smartphone market shipments, 2021-2026 (m units)
