These days, you’ll find chipsets in all sorts of devices. Obviously, there are our smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. But you can also find them in computers, smart displays, smart speakers, and more. However, despite them being everywhere, Counterpoint Research found that chip shipments in Q1 2026 actually went down.
Chip shipments in Q1 2026 were down
According to the data, it seems that both MediaTek and Qualcomm experienced a drop in chip shipments in Q1 2026. However, note that this is in comparison to Q1 2025. For MediaTek, Q1 2025 saw the company account for 38% of all chip shipments worldwide. Qualcomm was sitting at 27%.
But fast forward to Q1 2026, MediaTek and Qualcomm shipments dropped to 32% and 23%, respectively. Are either of them in any trouble? Hardly. Taking a look at the overall market, both companies are still very much in the lead. It is interesting that MediaTek seems to be the bigger player, despite Qualcomm’s chipsets found in major flagships around the world.
The report also seems to suggest that MediaTek might nix plans for the Dimensity 9500 Plus. Instead, the company will focus on pushing the Dimensity 9500, which launched back in 2025. The ongoing memory crisis means that phone makers no longer have as much wiggle room in the budget to spend on newer, higher-end chips, instead focusing on existing ones.
As for Qualcomm, it seems that Samsung’s decision to use the Exynos 2600 in the base Galaxy S26 models in some regions had an impact on its shipments. The report also claimed the ongoing memory shortage has resulted in the company’s lower-end chips being impacted as well.
Apple and Samsung on the rise
What’s interesting is that the report revealed that Apple and Samsung chipsets are on the rise. Apple and Samsung accounted for 15% and 5% of chips in Q1 2025, respectively, but jumped to 19% and 7% in Q1 2026. At this rate, Apple is only 4% away from taking over Qualcomm’s spot. It’s funny because Apple doesn’t sell its chips to anyone else, indicating that there is a huge demand for iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.
Also, Samsung deciding to adopt the Exynos 2600 for its base Galaxy S26 models has allowed it to increase its market share. The company is also expected to use the Exynos 2700 for its Galaxy S27 models. However, there are reports that say Qualcomm might win a bigger share of its business.
The post MediaTek and Qualcomm Lost Ground in Q1 2026, and Apple Is Closing in Fast appeared first on Android Headlines.
​Â
