The top 10 smartphones contributed 25 percent of global unit sales.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
The iPhone 17 leads the best-selling smartphone globally in Q1 2026 followed by other iPhone 17 series models.
Budget phones the Samsung Galaxy A07 4G and Galaxy A17 5G were also in the top 5.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly misses the top 10 despite strong early sales, highlighting intense market competition.
From flagship iPhones to budget Android phones, the first quarter of 2026 has witnessed a mix of best-selling smartphones. According to market research firm Counterpoint, the iPhone 17 has topped the list and is followed by other iPhone 17 series phones and the Samsung Galaxy A07 4G, among several others.
However, what's worth noting is that the much-anticipated Galaxy S26 series phones, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra, did not make the cut in the list of the top 10 best-selling phones. Here's more about the 10 best-selling phones in the first quarter of 2026.
The iPhone 17 series, Galaxy A07 4G, Redmi A5 and other phones contributed 25 percent of global unit sales.
Photo Credit: Counterpoint
The iPhone 17 was launched last year with a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Always-On display, a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, up to 3,000 nits peak brightness, and features a Dynamic Island.
It is powered by the A19 chip, which offers faster CPU and GPU performance with improved power efficiency over the A18, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage.
The iPhone 17 ships with iOS 26 with several years of software updates and supports Apple Intelligence features.
In terms of optics, it packs a 48MP Fusion main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera. On the front, it has an 18MP Center Stage camera.
While the battery capacity of the phone is not known, it is touted to include up to 30 hours of video playback and is capable of reaching a 50 percent charge in approximately 20 minutes with a 40W adapter.
The iPhone 17 is suitable for users who want a clean, reliable, and future-proof iPhone experience.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
Pros:
Smooth 120Hz ProMotion display
Powerful A19 chip
Long-term software updates
Cons:
Slow charging speed
Only 8GB RAM
No expandable storage
Starting Price: Rs 82,900 on Flipkart | Buy Now
Verdict: Suitable for users who want a clean, reliable, and future-proof iPhone experience.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a bigger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Always-On display with a 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness. It also features Dynamic Island for managing live activities, alerts, and multitasking.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max packs a stronger A19 Pro chip, which is noticeably faster and more efficient than the A18 Pro, especially in gaming and AI tasks. The chipset is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 2TB of internal storage.
It ships with iOS 26 with several years of software updates and Apple Intelligence features.
The Pro Max variant packs a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP 4x telephoto camera, along with an 18MP Center Stage camera for selfies and video calls.
It offers a comparatively larger battery, delivering up to 39 hours of video playback, and supports 40W wired charging, which charges the iPhone 17 Pro Max up to 50 percent in 20 minutes.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is suitable for users who want the best possible experience in the iPhone 17 series.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
Pros:
Large and smooth display
Powerful A19 Pro chip
Triple rear cameras
Long software support
Cons:
Slow charging speed
No 128GB storage option
Starting Price: Rs 1,49,900 on Amazon | Buy Now
Verdict: Suitable for users who want the best possible experience in the iPhone 17 series.
The Pro variant boasts a smaller 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Always-On display with a 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness.
Like the Pro Max, it is also powered by the Apple A19 Pro chip, offering up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.
The device runs on iOS 26 with several years of software updates and supports Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone 17 Pro has a similar 48MP Fusion main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP 4x telephoto camera on the rear, along with an 18MP Center Stage camera.
The iPhone offers up to 31 hours of video playback, with charging similar to the Pro Max variant.
The iPhone 17 Pro is suitable for iPhone enthusiasts looking for a compact Pro model.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
Pros:
Compact 6.3-inch display
Powerful chipset
Strong triple camera setup
Long software support
Cons:
Smaller battery compared to the Pro Max
Relatively slow charging speed
Very high price
Starting Price: Rs 1,34,900 | Buy Now on Flipkart
Verdict: Suitable for iPhone enthusiasts looking for a compact Pro model.
The Galaxy A07 4G is a budget-friendly phone that comes with a 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which is a 4G chipset designed for budget phones and tablets.
The 4G smartphone ships with Android 15 and offers six major OS upgrades and security updates.
In terms of optics, the smartphone packs a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth rear camera. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie camera.
The Galaxy A07 4G offers a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired charging support.
The Galaxy A07 4G is suitable only for users who want an entry-level Samsung phone for basic tasks.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
Pros:
Affordable pricing
Strong software support
Reliable chipset
Decent main camera for the price segment
Large battery
Cons:
4G only
Only HD+ resolution display
PLS LCD panel instead of AMOLED
Basic secondary camera
Slow charging speed
Starting Price: Rs 10,399 on Flipkart | Buy Now
Verdict: Suitable only for users who want an entry-level Samsung phone for basic tasks.
The Galaxy A17 5G boasts a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 1330 chipset, which is touted as a suitable processor for basic tasks but may show sluggishness in heavy multitasking.
The smartphone runs on Android 15-based One UI 7 out of the box and offers up to six major OS upgrades.
The smartphone packs a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 50MP OIS main camera, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. For selfies, it has a 13MP sensor.
Like another entry-level Samsung phone, it has a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging support.
The Galaxy A17 5G is suitable only for those users looking for brand's trust and long software updates.
Photo Credit: Flipkart
Pros:
Super AMOLED display
Clean OS with strong software support
Decent cameras
Reliable battery
Cons:
Chipset feels average
Slow charging speed
Starting Price: Rs 19,499 on Flipkart | Buy Now
Verdict: Suitable only for users looking for brand trust and long software updates.
The aforementioned phones are followed by the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, Galaxy A17 4G, and Redmi A5, completing the list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones globally.
The report also mentioned that these phones contributed 25 percent of global unit sales. While the iPhone 17 topped the list with a 6 percent market share for the quarter, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is currently discounted in India, just missed making it to the top 10 best-selling phones list, despite recording stronger early sales than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
However, some much-anticipated brands such as Realme, Vivo, OPPO, and OnePlus failed to make it to the top 10 list this quarter, indicating tough competition in the global smartphone market.
Which smartphone topped the global best-selling list in Q1 2026?
The iPhone 17 topped the global best-selling smartphone list in the first quarter of 2026, holding a 6 percent market share for the quarter.
Why did the Galaxy S26 series phones not make it to the top 10 best-sellers in Q1 2026?
Despite strong early sales, the Galaxy S26 series, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra, did not make the top 10 best-selling phones list in Q1 2026 due to intense competition and possibly fewer overall units sold compared to other leading smartphones.
What is the software update policy for these top-selling smartphones?
Most top-selling smartphones, including the iPhone 17 series and Samsung Galaxy A series, ship with the latest OS versions (iOS 26 for iPhones and Android 15 for Samsung phones) and promise several years of major OS upgrades and security updates.
How does the market performance of brands like Realme and OnePlus compare in Q1 2026?
Despite their popularity, brands like Realme, Vivo, OPPO, and OnePlus did not make it to the top 10 best-selling phones list in Q1 2026, indicating strong market competition and the dominant performance of Samsung and Apple devices in this quarter.
At marvelof.com, we spotlight the latest trends and products to keep you informed and inspired. Our coverage is editorial, not an endorsement to purchase. If you choose to shop through links in this article, whether on Amazon, Flipkart, or Myntra, marvelof.com may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
