The Pixel 10 series failed to sustain the momentum Google built with its predecessor, and new Omdia data shows the damage. Google shipped roughly 800,000 Pixel phones in the US during Q1 2026, down 7% year-over-year from about 900,000 in Q1 2025, despite the Pixel 10a launching in February.
Google held onto its 3% share of the US market, good for fourth place. But the Omdia report paints a blunt picture: the Pixel 10 lineup simply "failed to replicate the momentum of the Pixel 9 lineup a year earlier." Aggressive carrier promotions and the earlier Pixel 10a launch helped offset some of the decline, but not enough to reverse it. The broader US smartphone market shrank 3% year-over-year, dragging down nearly every brand. Apple remained dominant with 60% market share and 19.9 million shipments, though that was still down 3% from a year ago.
Samsung shipped 7.9 million units (24% market share), a 5% decline even with a well-received Galaxy S26 series. The only top-five brand that grew was Motorola. Shipments jumped 18% year-over-year to 3.6 million, pushing its US market share to 11%. The growth came almost entirely from the Moto G series, which made up 70% of Motorola's Q1 volume before recent price increases took effect.
Google's dip is particularly notable given that Pixel has been off to a strong start globally in 2026. The US is becoming an outlier in the smartphone recovery. While premium device demand is improving in other regions, the US saw growth only in the sub-$300 segment. The $300-to-$599 mid-range tier dropped 19% year-over-year, a segment where the Pixel 10a directly competes.
