The latest Counterpoint report reveals that MediaTek and Qualcomm experienced more than a 30% year-over-year decline in smartphone chip shipments during the second quarter of 2026. MediaTek retained its leading position with a 31% market share, while Qualcomm held 23%.
MediaTek’s shipment decline is driven mainly by persistent memory shortages affecting mid-range and entry-level segments, along with slower sales of Dimensity 9000 series devices in the high-end market. However, the Dimensity 8500 chip saw growth thanks to strong sales of the POCO X8 Pro and HONOR Power 2 series.
Qualcomm’s drop is linked to Samsung’s partial shift to Exynos 2600 for the base models of the Galaxy S26 series in certain regions. Additionally, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 and 400 series shipments were hampered by ongoing memory constraints and inventory buildup.
In contrast, Apple slightly increased its chip shipments, boosting its 19% market share with strong sales of the iPhone 17 series, especially the Pro models. The A19 chipset shipped more units than its predecessor as iPhone 17 outperformed the previous generation, highlighted by the Pro versions’ strong value across markets.
Other players saw mixed results: UNISOC’s shipments fell due to memory shortages and challenges in the entry-level market, though it maintained its 13% share with support from LTE chip orders like T7250 and entry-level 5G designs. Samsung’s Exynos chips gained shipments with a 9% share, helped by Galaxy S26, Galaxy A57 with Exynos 1680, and Galaxy A37 with Exynos 1480. Huawei’s HiSilicon chips declined to 5% share despite a rise in high-end Pura 90 series shipments; the mid-range Nova 16’s use of Kirin 9010 chip contributed to the drop.
Counterpoint’s data also confirmed that global smartphone shipments fell 21% year-over-year in Q2 2026, mainly due to rising memory costs and cautious inventory management by OEMs. The medium and low-end segments faced the biggest impact, as manufacturers reduce entry-level models and optimize portfolios to protect margins.
Source: ithome.com
