Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is on track to achieve record global market share across its three core hardware categories by the end of 2026, according to new projections released by Counterpoint Research, underscoring the company’s continued ability to expand its ecosystem despite mounting cost pressures across the semiconductor industry.
The research firm forecasts Apple’s iPhone increasing its share of the global smartphone market from 23% in 2025 to 25% in 2026. The Mac is expected to grow from 9% to 12% of the laptop market, while the iPad is projected to strengthen its leadership by expanding from 35% to 39% of the global tablet market.
According to Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint, Apple’s performance reflects an unusual level of resilience in an increasingly competitive consumer technology market.
“This year defines Apple’s unique resilience within the industry,” Pathak said in the report. “The multi-segment market share gains also mean a compounding impact on the company’s ecosystem strength. Apple is still gaining new users across categories, and it will become increasingly difficult for competitors to make an Apple user switch to their operating system.”
The report was released one day before Apple announced price increases for several products, including the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air and iPad Pro Wi-Fi models.
The company did not adjust pricing for its current iPhone lineup, although analysts broadly expect new-generation iPhones scheduled for release later this year to carry higher prices.
Counterpoint attributed the pricing adjustments primarily to structural changes in the semiconductor supply chain rather than company-specific factors.
According to Neil Shah, Vice President of Research at Counterpoint, the rapid expansion of global artificial intelligence infrastructure is reshaping chip demand across the technology industry.
“Apple’s recent price hikes reflect the biggest change in the cost structure of the consumer and enterprise PC and tablet market,” Shah said. “The unprecedented AI infrastructure growth has changed the semiconductor supply chain, driving insatiable demand for DRAM, NAND and compute chips, with AI infrastructure increasingly prioritized over other markets.”
Shah added that Apple postponed price increases for multiple quarters, absorbing higher component costs in an effort to protect its installed user base from inflationary pressures before ultimately passing part of those costs to consumers.
Premium Positioning Provides Relative Protection
While semiconductor shortages and rising component prices continue to pressure hardware manufacturers, Counterpoint believes Apple’s premium positioning leaves the company comparatively better insulated than many competitors.
The firm’s analysts note that Apple’s customer base has historically demonstrated greater willingness to absorb price increases, reducing the potential impact on demand while reinforcing the company’s broader ecosystem strategy.
If the projections are realized, 2026 would represent Apple’s highest recorded market share simultaneously across smartphones, laptops and tablets, further strengthening its position within the global consumer electronics market as AI-driven demand continues to reshape technology supply chains.
