Huawei Smartphone Production Estimated to Reach 13.5 Million Uni

Global Smartphone "Others" Production Forecast to Rebound 11.7%

According to the latest DataTrack data, the production volume of the global smartphone "Others" category in the third quarter of 2026 is projected to rebound to 2.52 million units (2,520 K pcs), a significant growth of 11.7% from the previous quarter's 2.256 million units, and a slight increase of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. This rebound marks the end of the low-level consolidation seen since the end of 2025, indicating that under the pressure of high market concentration, non-mainstream brands are still attempting to utilize the traditional electronics peak season (Q3) for inventory replenishment and trial production of new products. However, extending the timeline, the current production scale is only about one-tenth of the 2017 peak (over 25 million units in a single quarter), reflecting the reality that long-term survival space has been severely compressed. Observing detailed performance, although the data itself does not provide a regional breakdown, this "Others" category typically includes niche brands or white-label phones in specific regions. The 11.7% quarterly increase this time primarily benefits from the stocking effect of the second-half consumer peak season. In contrast, reports from IDC and TrendForce indicate that the global smartphone market in 2026 faces structural headwinds; mainstream giants like Apple and Samsung already control nearly 40% of the market share, and the share left for "Others" is continuously shrinking, making this rebound appear more like a seasonal repair following a deep decline. In terms of attribution analysis, the biggest challenge facing the mobile phone industry in 2026 comes from supply chain costs. According to the latest analysis released by TrendForce and Counterpoint in January 2026, due to the crowding-out effect of AI server demand, prices for DRAM and NAND Flash have climbed sharply, causing a surge in smartphone BOM (Bill of Materials) costs. While large brands can transfer costs through economies of scale or price increases, "Others" manufacturers lacking bargaining power bear the brunt, with profits being severely eroded. Institutional analysts point out that this is the main reason why production volume in this category has shown a long-term "sliding" decline, surviving only in specific low-price or functional niche markets. Looking ahead, in the short term (1-2 months), benefiting from the Q3 peak season production schedule, data is expected to maintain a relatively high level of around 2.5 million units; however, medium-term (3-6 months) risks remain significant. TrendForce has already revised its 2026 full-year global smartphone production forecast down to a decline of 7%, noting that production momentum may weaken after Q2. As memory prices continue to look bullish, if small brands cannot absorb costs themselves or find a path to differentiation, Q4 may face even more severe pressure for inventory adjustment and production reduction. Relevant Market Information Sources: https://www.telecomlead.com/smart-phones/trendforce-cuts-2026-global-smartphone-production-forecast-amid-rising-memory-costs-and-sluggish-demand-120098 https://tech-ish.com/2026/01/12/apple-market-share-2025-2026/ https://www.counterpointresearch.com/global-smartphone-shipments-2025/