Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Türkiye Expected to Sell 12.5 Million Smartphones in 2026
Samsung Türkiye expects 12.5 million smartphones to sell in Türkiye in 2026 as the market grows about 7%.
The company also expects tablet sales to rise about 10%, and says combined market growth could reach double digits.
The forecast comes as global smartphone sales weakened, with the market shrinking 7.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026.
Higher semiconductor costs are adding pressure on manufacturers, and chips have become their biggest cost item, according to Samsung Türkiye Vice President Murat Azdemir.
Fewer than 30% of smartphones used in Türkiye support 5G, leaving room for consumers to upgrade as the technology spreads.
The growth outlook matters for device makers, but future prices in Türkiye remain uncertain because exchange rates, taxes, shipping costs and local competition also affect what consumers pay.
Samsung expects cost pressures to continue, while the pace of 5G adoption and device upgrades will shape the market ahead.
Samsung Türkiye Vice President Murat Azdemir expects Türkiye’s smartphone market to grow by about 7% in 2026.
That growth would amount to an expected 12.5 million smartphone sales in Türkiye, according to the article’s headline.
Azdemir also expects Türkiye’s tablet market to grow by about 10% in 2026.
He said wider 5G use and rising use of artificial intelligence could help push total market growth into double digits.
Less than 30% of smartphones currently used in Türkiye support 5G, he said.
- Who
- Samsung Türkiye Vice President Murat Azdemir gave the forecast.
- What
- Türkiye is expected to sell 12.5 million smartphones in 2026. Azdemir forecast about 7% growth in the smartphone market.
- When
- 2026.
- Where
- Türkiye.
- Why
- Azdemir pointed to wider 5G adoption and increased use of artificial intelligence as factors that could support market growth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The global smartphone market contracted 2.9% year on year, according to Azdemir.
The global smartphone market contracted 7.4% year on year, according to Azdemir.
Bloomberg HT published Azdemir's forecast for Türkiye's smartphone market.
- Expected smartphone sales
- 12.5 million in Türkiye in 2026
- Expected smartphone-market growth
- About 7% in Türkiye in 2026
- Expected tablet-market growth
- About 10% in Türkiye in 2026
- 5G-capable share
- Less than 30% of smartphones used in Türkiye
- Global smartphone market
- Down 7.4% year on year in the second quarter of 2026
What people are saying
In 2026, we expect growth of around 7% in Türkiye's smartphone market and around 10% in the tablet market.
Less than 30% of the smartphones used in Türkiye today support 5G.
We think that developments such as the wider adoption of 5G, increased use of artificial intelligence and consumers turning to tablets for different needs give total market growth the potential to reach double-digit figures.
Given current market conditions, we expect cost pressures to continue for some time.