The processor chip market is now more in favor of premium models with MediaTek and Qualcomm both facing declines while Apple, Samsung and Unisoc are showing increases in certain segments. This data is obtained from the latest Counterpoint report that has just been published, thus illustrating the changing trends in the current smartphone industry.
Based on the smartphone chip market report for the Q1 2026 quarter, MediaTek still remains the largest manufacturer despite their market share declining from 38% in Q1 2025 to 32% in Q1 2026. The Dimensity 8450 chip helped strengthen the company's position in the mid-range segment through models such as the Oppo Reno15 Pro.
Next, Qualcomm is in second place with 23% but also recorded a decline partly due to the use of the Exynos 2600 chip in the Galaxy S26 and launch delays. The Snapdragon 4 and 6 series were also affected by low sales of budget smartphones.
Meanwhile, Apple is in third place with a market share of 19%. A19 chip shipments increased due to high demand for the iPhone 17 series, especially the iPhone 17e which performed better than the previous iPhone 16 series. The Pro variant was also well received in various markets due to its strong value proposition.
In addition, Unisoc recorded 14% and successfully penetrated the market through Redmi with the T7250 chip for 4G phones and T8300 for 5G phones. Next, Samsung Exynos which recorded 7% showed an increase as more models used home-made chips including the Galaxy A57 (Exynos 1680) and Galaxy A37 (Exynos 1480). HiSilicon (Huawei) recorded 4% and slightly decreased but demand for the Kirin 9000 chip in the Mate 80 series helped them continue to compete in the market.
According to Counterpoint, this situation occurred because the increasing cost of memory chips has had a major impact on the smartphone market. Therefore, budget and mid-range models are becoming less popular as manufacturers find it difficult to absorb the increase in costs. On the other hand, premium models are better able to absorb these additional costs, thus maintaining stable demand in the segment.
