Apple’s iPhone sales in the United States saw a 1.3% year-over-year increase during the first quarter of 2026, according to data shared by Counterpoint Research. Apple’s sales increase occurred in the face of a 5.7% decline for the overall US smartphone market during the same time period.
Android device makers saw their sales fall a precipitous 14.4 percent, while Apple’s market share grew 4% year-over-year. The impressive performance for Apple was partially aided by the iPhone 17‘s sales performance, but was also likely assisted by the delayed March launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series.
The iPhone’s market share increased across all three major US carriers, while Android sales saw a drop. 75% of sales for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon were from the iPhone.
Counterpoint expects Apple to continue to outpace Android, as long as it can continue to hold the line on prices.
If Apple can avoid significant price increases and continue to outpace its peers in promotional dollars, it will be tough for Android OEMs to keep up in the year ahead.
During Apple’s April 30 Q2 2026 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said the iPhone 17 family was the most popular lineup in Apple’s history. Cook also said iPhone demand had led to supply constraints during the quarter, thanks to issues in getting TSMC’s A19 and A19 Pro chips, due to demand for TSMC’s AI server chips.