Global smartphone chipset shipments saw a significant decline of 15% in the first half of 2026, largely attributed to the ongoing memory chip shortage impacting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The top two chipset suppliers, Qualcomm and MediaTek, experienced the most substantial downturn, with an estimated 25% decrease in System on Chip (SoC) shipments compared to the same period in 2025. Qualcomm's premium Snapdragon offerings showed limited growth, while MediaTek's flagship Dimensity series performed better, despite a plunge in its lower-end 5G chips.

Conversely, Apple, Unisoc, and Samsung all reported increased SoC shipments. Apple's demand for its A19 and A19 Pro chipsets was boosted by the iPhone 17 series. Unisoc has seen a rise, partly due to a shift from 5G MediaTek chips to 4G Unisoc chips in entry-level smartphones and new partnerships with Xiaomi for Redmi and Poco devices.

Counterpoint Research forecasts a 14% decline in smartphone chipset shipments for the full year, with the entry-level market potentially falling by as much as 30% annually. Memory chip prices are not expected to stabilize until the second half of 2027.