IDC: China's smartphone market shipments in the third quarter were about 57.9 million units, down 15.4% year on year

The Zhitong Finance App learned that according to data from the first edition of the International Data Corporation (IDC)'s latest quarterly mobile phone tracking report, the Chinese smartphone market shipped about 57.9 million units in the third quarter of 2026, a decrease of 15.4% over the previous year. Huawei is the only leading manufacturer to achieve double-digit year-on-year growth.

Overall market: 57.9 million units were shipped in Q3, a year-on-year decrease of 15.4%

Compared with the year-on-year decline of about 4% in the first half of the year, the overall market size decline accelerated further in the second half of the year. The rise in terminal prices and product configuration plan adjustments caused by a sharp rise in the cost of storage and other components have begun to clearly curb consumer demand. Among them, the pressure on Android manufacturers and long-tail brands is particularly prominent.

This quarter, the market showed the typical characteristics of “volume decline and price increase.” Upstream cost pressure continues to be transmitted to terminals, causing new product pricing to generally rise, while manufacturers have to adjust product configurations to balance costs. Consumers still need time to adapt to rising prices, and the switching cycle is further lengthened, directly dragging down overall shipping performance. This trend shows that cost pressure has become a key variable currently influencing the trend of the Chinese smartphone market.

Vendor pattern: Huawei's share rose to 21.1%, Honor increased slightly from month to month

Against the backdrop of the overall downturn, with diversified product forms and relatively restrained price increases, Huawei continued its strong performance since this year, and achieved double-digit year-on-year growth in shipments. After the launch of Apple's new products, market popularity exceeded expectations, but shipments declined slightly from year to year due to a decrease in the number of models this year. Although other leading Chinese brands are facing major challenges, they are still showing their corresponding ability to withstand pressure. Among them, Honor became the only brand among leading manufacturers to achieve a month-on-month increase in shipments, showing a certain rebound trend.

Future market outlook: It is difficult for the market to improve until the price system is rebuilt

Looking ahead to the future market, it is expected that the cost of storage and other materials will remain high in the next few quarters, and the price of mobile phone products will continue to grow. Most consumers still need time to accept and adapt to price increases, and the switching cycle may be further lengthened. Therefore, even if a large number of new products in various grades are released centrally, IDC expects that the performance of the Chinese smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2026 will still be difficult to improve. Cost pressure will still exist even through most of 2027, and the market is expected to continue its marked downward trend.

However, with strong brand traction and a more limited price increase compared to competitors, leading manufacturers are expected to seize more consumers in the inventory competition. Over time, consumers are bound to gradually adapt and accept the new mobile phone price system. When new switching nodes arrive, they will still replace their devices, and other brands will also usher in more opportunities for market development at that time.