According to DIGITIMES, smartphone memory contract prices surged by 50% to 80% in the first half of 2026, prompting most vendors to continue cutting shipments of mid- and low-end models and to raise product prices.
Abstract
According to DIGITIMES, smartphone memory contract prices surged by 50% to 80% in the first half of 2026, prompting most vendors to continue cutting shipments of mid- and low-end models and to raise product prices. As a result, global smartphone shipments declined 15.4% year-over-year to 247.6 million units in the second quarter. Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, cost pressure on smartphone vendors is unlikely to ease, and they will remain unable to lift shipments of mid- and low-end models. Global smartphone shipments are therefore expected to decline by about 20% year-over-year.Compared with the 68.2 million units forecast in May 2026, DIGITIMES has lowered its estimate for smartphone shipments in China in the second quarter of 2026 to 63.6 million units, down 11.7% year-over-year. It expects China smartphone shipments to decline 10.3% and 12.3% year-over-year in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Outside China, smartphone shipments fell 16.5% year-over-year to 184.0 million units in the second quarter of 2026, 11.1 million units below the May forecast of 195.1 million units. Shipments in the second half of 2026 are expected to decline by more than 20% year-over-year.
This report covers global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2026, as well as factors that could affect shipments in the second half of the year.
