Counterpoint says global smartphone processor shipments fell 21% YoY in Q3 as rising memory costs pushed manufacturers to cut cheaper models.
• MediaTek's market share fell from 34% to 28%
• Qualcomm's $QCOM declined from 25% to 22%
• Apple's increased from 17% to 21%
Qualcomm also faced pressure from Samsung using its own Exynos chips in some Galaxy S26 models, alongside weaker sales from Chinese smartphone makers.
Counterpoint now expects smartphone chip shipments to decline 20% in 2026 and another 3%-4% in 2027.