In the first quarter of 2026, Apple’s iPhone sales in the United States rose by 1.3 percent compared to the previous year, even as the overall smartphone market faced a 5.7 percent decline. While Android devices saw a significant drop of 14.4 percent in sales, Apple’s market share grew by 4 percent. This growth is attributed to the strong performance of the iPhone 17 and the delayed release of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series.
Apple’s dominance was evident across major U.S. carriers, with iPhones accounting for 75 percent of sales at Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The company is expected to continue attracting users to its iOS platform by maintaining competitive pricing and increasing storage options, unlike other smartphone manufacturers who are raising prices due to tighter hardware margins.
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, highlighted the unprecedented popularity of the iPhone 17 lineup during an earnings call. However, he noted that the high demand led to supply challenges, particularly with the A19 and A19 Pro chips, exacerbated by TSMC’s focus on AI server chips. Looking ahead, Apple anticipates rising memory costs, which could impact the company later in the year. While Cook acknowledged these challenges, he did not specify how Apple plans to address them or if there will be price increases.
