Android holds 75% global share in Q2 2026 as Apple and Huawei gain ground

Google’s Pixel 10a captured 7% of smartphone sales in Japan during Q2 2026, marking the only country where a Pixel device appeared in the top five best-selling smartphones, Counterpoint Research reported. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17E occupied the first two positions in that market; the Pixel 10a followed directly behind them.

Global OS share holds steady amid shifts

Android accounted for approximately 75% of global smartphone sales in Q2 2026, down 4 percentage points year-on-year from 79%. iOS rose to 20%, while Huawei’s HarmonyOS claimed the remaining 5%. These figures reflect sales volume, not installed base or active usage. The Q2 2026 distribution closely mirrors the prior year’s pattern, with Android yielding ground to both Apple and Huawei.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series offsets broader decline

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series—especially the Ultra variant—helped mitigate Android’s overall market share erosion during Q2 2026. That performance occurred against the backdrop of RAMageddon, a supply constraint impacting memory components across the industry. Chinese Android OEMs responded by pivoting toward higher-value devices and scaling back operations in the entry-level segment to manage both RAM shortages and increasing production costs.

Pixel 10a extends regional momentum

The Pixel 10a’s 7% share in Japan continues a trend of strong regional reception for Google’s budget-oriented Pixel lineup. In contrast, the Pixel 9a did not appear among Japan’s top five best-selling smartphones in Q2 2025. No other major market listed a Pixel model in its top five for Q2 2026.

Related Google ecosystem developments

Gemini Intelligence now requires Gemini Nano 3, and Google has identified the first set of devices compatible with the upcoming Nano 4 architecture. Separately, industry forecasts describe the “cheap smartphone era” as concluded, with permanent price increases anticipated. Google Play will also enforce stricter memory-usage requirements and mandate seamless device migration capabilities starting in 2027.