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HONOR Grows 35% as Middle East Smartphone Market Shrinks 13%

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HONOR Grows 35% as Middle East Smartphone Market Shrinks 13%

September 28, 2026 – Kuwait City – -- HONOR grew smartphone shipments 35% year on year in the Middle East during the first half of 2026, even as the overall regional market contracted 13%, according to Omdia data cited by the company. The brand was the only major vendor in the region to post growth in the period, moving into second place in the market after posting 73% growth in the first quarter alone.

HONOR captures 24% share of the $300-500 price band

The gains were concentrated in the mid-to-high-end segment. HONOR took a 24% share of the $300-500 price band in the first quarter of 2026, up 130% year on year, narrowing the gap with Samsung in that category. The HONOR X9d, positioned on durability and battery life, became a top seller in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while the HONOR 600 Series delivered double-digit growth in what the company calls the accessible flagship segment.

Honor Shipments Hit 71 Million in 2025 After Rebuilding From 3% Share

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Honor Shipments Hit 71 Million in 2025 After Rebuilding From 3% Share

Beijing – September 24, 2026 -- Honor's global smartphone shipments surpassed 71 million units in 2025, making it the fastest-growing leading smartphone vendor after the company's domestic market share had collapsed to just 3% following its November 2020 spinoff from Huawei.

Shipments climbed 25% in Q1 2026 despite market headwinds

Honor extended its recovery into 2026, with first-quarter shipments rising 25% even as broader smartphone demand faced pressure. The gains follow a period in which the roughly 7,000-person team operated without an owned operating system or manufacturing facilities.