Premium Smartphone Market Share Surpasses 29% in H1 2026, with Apple and Samsung Leading The global premium smartphone market, defined as devices with a wholesale average selling price of $600 and above, demonstrated resilience in the first half of 2026, with unit sales rising 5% year-over-year. This growth pushed the premium segment’s share of the overall global smartphone market to a record high of 29%, up from 25% in the same period in 2025 and 20% in 2022, according to Counterpoint Research’s Handset Model Sales Tracker. The shift toward premiumization was driven by rising memory and component costs, which disproportionately impacted lower- and mid-tier segments. Premium Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) were better positioned to absorb these costs through higher profit margins and reduced promotional discounts, enabling them to sustain demand despite broader market challenges. From 2022 to 2025, the premium segment’s share growth was largely fueled by a global trend toward premiumization, as consumers increasingly prioritized high-end smartphones over budget models. Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi highlighted that escalating memory and component costs are reshaping smartphone pricing dynamics. “As mid-tier Android devices face higher price pressures, the gap between these models and premium smartphones—especially older or discounted flagship versions—has narrowed,” he explained. This trend is making flagship devices a more attractive upgrade option for consumers. To support this shift, OEMs are expanding financing, trade-in, and buyback programs to improve affordability. Samsung, for instance, has broadened its Galaxy Forever initiative to multiple markets to enhance access to flagship models.#apple #samsung #counterpoint_research #harshit_rastogi #karn_chauhan
