Amid a downturn in the global smartphone market, Honor recorded a 9 percent year-on-year increase in smartphone shipments in the first half of 2026, according to market research firms International Data Corporation (IDC) and Omdia.
The growth placed the company at the forefront of the global Android market, making it the fastest-growing major vendor during the period. The company was also the only Chinese Android manufacturer to record positive year-on-year shipment growth globally.
The brand’s momentum was particularly pronounced across several international markets, where it grew despite contractions in overall smartphone demand.
In the Middle East, smartphone shipments declined 13 percent year on year in the first half, while Honor’s shipments grew 35 percent, according to Omdia. The growth made it the only leading smartphone vendor in the region to record an increase during the period, while it retained a top-two position by market share for two consecutive quarters.
According to Omdia, it’s smartphone shipments grew 53 percent year on year in Africa during the first half, while in Southeast Asia the company recorded 15 percent growth.
The company’s overseas business also continued to expand during the period, with sales volume increasing 20 percent year on year and revenue rising 26 percent, according to them.
“Our overall performance in the first half exceeded expectations, with overseas growth remaining steady and the domestic market showing signs of recovery. We are also seeing strong momentum in the premium segment, particularly in the $400 to $800 range. While the second quarter brought challenges from rising memory costs and tougher competition, we remain confident in our recovery in China,” said James Li, CEO of Honor.
“The growth we are seeing across these markets gives us strong confidence in the direction we are taking. We will build on this momentum by bringing more relevant innovation to consumers and strengthening our presence across the region,” said Lang Guo, Country Manager, Honor Bangladesh.
Alongside its smartphone business, Honor is expanding its focus on AI-powered and other intelligent devices as the brand aims to position itself as a broader AI device ecosystem company.