Report: Apple sees Latin America iPhone shipments surge 31%, led by Mexico
Source: 9to5Mac
A new Omdia report shows iPhone shipments jumped 31 % year‑over‑year in Latin America during Q1 2026, driven by strong iPhone 17 performance and an 80 % surge in Mexico.
Market Overview
According to Omdia (via MacMagazine), the Latin American smartphone market shipped 34.8 million units in Q1 2026, a modest 3 % increase. The growth was tempered by “shortage and increase in the cost of memory components,” which reduced the supply of affordable devices, noted senior analyst Miguel Ángel Pérez.
Top Vendors
| Rank | Vendor | Units (million) | Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung | 12.9 | 37 % |
| 2 | Xiaomi | 6.0 | 17 % |
| 3 | Motorola | 4.9 | 14 % |
| 4 | HONOR | 3.4 | 10 % |
| 5 | Apple | 1.8 | 5 % |
While Apple’s absolute shipments rose by 400 k units, this represented a 31 % year‑over‑year increase, the highest among the top five vendors, closely followed by HONOR’s 30 % jump.
Apple’s Performance by Country
The top five markets accounted for 73 % of total shipments. Apple appeared in only two of those markets:
- Brazil – 5 % share, ranking fifth.
- Mexico – 16 % share, ranking third, after an “exceptional performance (+80 % YoY) and robust reception of the iPhone 17 series,” according to Omdia.
Outlook
Omdia expects rising memory costs to become more visible in retail prices from late Q2 2026 onward, especially for devices priced below $300. This environment underscores the relevance of Apple’s higher‑end resilience, as the iPhone primarily competes above the most price‑sensitive tiers.
For the full Omdia report, follow this link.