Global smartphone sales plummeted in the first half of 2026, with the overall market falling 13% in the Middle East alone. However, Honor bucked the trend, growing shipments 35% year-over-year in the region and expanding its market share from 10% to 15%, securing second place for a second consecutive quarter.

Honor's success isn't isolated. Shipments climbed 53% in Africa and 15% in Southeast Asia, with particularly strong performance in Malaysia and the Philippines. In contrast, competitors like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo suffered double-digit global shipment drops in Q2 due to rising component costs impacting their budget-focused portfolios.

Globally, Samsung reclaimed the smartphone lead in Q2 with a 24% market share, driven by the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Meanwhile, Huawei saw a 24% shipment increase in China, and Apple gained 23%, indicating that premium devices are weathering the downturn better than budget models. Honor is capitalizing on this trend, capturing 53% of Malaysia's foldable market, 67% in Singapore, and an astounding 89% in Hong Kong.

According to IDC, Honor's 9% global H1 shipment growth made it the only major Chinese Android manufacturer to post year-over-year gains, highlighting its resilience amid ongoing industry challenges.