Some of the best-selling Android phones in 2026 skip a feature you take for granted

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Counterpoint Research has revealed its list of the best‑selling smartphones for the first quarter of the year.
• The top‑selling Android phone was the Galaxy A07 4G, with two other 4G phones in the top ten.
• Other Android phones on the list include the Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A56.

Market context

The smartphone market is in turmoil as the RAM crisis bites hard. This shift has altered the landscape of the most popular phones globally.

Counterpoint Research rankings (Q1 2026)

Counterpoint Research posted its list of the top 10 best‑selling smartphones for Q1 2026. The most popular Android phone was the Samsung Galaxy A07 4G, which ranked fourth overall.

• The best‑selling Android phone in the previous quarter didn’t even have 5G.
• The ninth‑placed Galaxy A17 4G and the tenth‑placed Xiaomi Redmi A5 also lack 5G connectivity.
• The RAM crisis is prompting manufacturers to skip 5G on budget models as a cost‑cutting measure.

Other Android phones on the list

• Samsung Galaxy A17 5G – fifth place
• Samsung Galaxy A56 – seventh place
• Samsung Galaxy A36 – eighth place

Counterpoint Research noted that the Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed the list, which is notable given it was only available for a few weeks during the quarter.

Top iPhone models

The top three spots were occupied by:

1. iPhone 17
2. iPhone 17 Pro Max
3. iPhone 17 Pro

Last year’s iPhone 16 ranked sixth.