Apple’s standard iPhone is having a very strong start to 2026.
According to Counterpoint data shared by GSMArena, the iPhone 17 was the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026, taking around 6% of all smartphone sales globally during the quarter. That is a pretty big slice when you remember how crowded the phone market is, from budget Androids to foldables to gaming-focused devices.
What is interesting is that Apple did not just win with one model. The iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro also completed the global Top 3, similar to what happened in Q1 2025. But this time, the regular iPhone 17 reportedly has a clearer lead over its more expensive Pro siblings.
That says a lot about how Apple has positioned the normal iPhone this round. Counterpoint senior analyst Harshit Rastogi pointed to upgrades like higher base storage, improved camera resolution, and a better display refresh rate as reasons the iPhone 17 is closer to the Pro models than before. In simple terms: more buyers may feel they are getting enough “Pro-ish” features without paying Pro-level money.
For Malaysian buyers, that matters. A lot of people here upgrade through telco plans, instalments, trade-ins, or family hand-me-down cycles. If the base iPhone feels less compromised, it becomes easier to justify versus stretching for a Pro Max. The report does not include Malaysia-specific RM pricing, but the trend is still relevant for anyone comparing value before committing to a flagship phone purchase.
Apple’s older model is also still hanging around. The iPhone 16 placed sixth in the Q1 2026 global chart, showing that last-gen iPhones continue to move volume after newer models arrive. No surprise lah — once prices drop or promos kick in, older iPhones become very tempting.
On the Android side, the story is very different but just as important. The Samsung Galaxy A07 4G was the best-selling Android phone in the first quarter of 2026. Yes, a 4G phone. Counterpoint says it did well in emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
That pattern should feel familiar in SEA too. Not everyone is chasing 5G or flagship camera specs. For many users, especially students, parents, delivery riders, and backup-phone buyers, the priority is simple: affordable price, decent battery, acceptable performance, and long software support.
Samsung also had the Galaxy A17 4G in the Top 10, while the Galaxy A17 5G ranked higher than the 4G version. Both the Galaxy A07 4G and A17 4G are notable because Samsung promises six major OS updates for them. That is a big deal in the budget segment, although GSMArena notes their older 4G modems could feel limiting by 2031.
The chart also shows Samsung’s midrange strength, with the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 taking the seventh and eighth spots. For Malaysia, these are the kinds of models that usually matter more than ultra-premium flagships because they sit in that practical daily-driver zone: good screen, good battery, decent cameras, and usually better promo pricing.
One big missing name is the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Last year, the S25 Ultra was the only Android flagship to enter the list. But Counterpoint says the S26 Ultra only narrowly missed the Top 10, partly because it launched later — March 2026 instead of February 2025 — so it only had a short window inside Q1.
Xiaomi also made the list again, this time with the Redmi A5, an ultra-affordable Android Go model. Like Samsung’s A07, it is a 4G device that found traction in emerging markets.
So the takeaway is pretty clear: Apple is dominating the premium mainstream conversation, but budget Android is still where massive volume happens. For SEA, that split is very real — iPhones remain aspirational and sticky, while affordable Samsung and Redmi phones keep doing the everyday work.
Source: GSMArena