Motorola Shrank in Latin America, but Its Premium Phones Grew 46%. What That Means for Your Order
Motorola has long been a safe name in Latin America. The second quarter of 2026 changed the picture a little. The brand sold fewer phones overall, yet its most expensive ones grew fast. If you buy Motorola by the box, that split matters.
Motorola's second quarter 2026 numbers
According to Omdia's quarterly report, Motorola shipped 4.4 million phones in Latin America in the second quarter of 2026. That is a 14% share and a 15% drop from a year earlier. Within that total, Omdia says high-end and premium shipments grew 46%, led by the Edge 70 and the Razr 70.
Put plainly: fewer cheap Motorolas moved, and more expensive ones did. Omdia's report does not give unit counts for the premium group, so we cannot say how big that 46% is in absolute terms.
Why the total fell while the top end rose
Omdia ties the market decline to rising memory costs. The whole region fell 12% to 30.3 million units, because higher DRAM and NAND prices pushed up retail prices and hit entry-level phones hardest. Mid-range, high-range and premium phones held up better. Omdia also forecasts a 16% decline for the full year 2026, per its press release.
For a reseller, that means a cheap phone now costs more to stock and is harder to sell at the old price. A buyer who was stretching to afford a $150 phone may not stretch to $190.
The contrast with Samsung's 39% share
In the same report Samsung shipped 12.0 million phones, up 9%, for a 39% share, its highest since early 2022. Omdia credits the Galaxy A07 and A17 along with the A37 and A57. Motorola is not competing for that same volume right now. It is doing better when it moves up the price ladder.
How we would split a 30-unit Motorola order
This is our view, not Omdia's. Treat the numbers above as a direction, not a formula.
Keep a core of the budget models you already know sell in your market, but buy fewer than last year's habit.
Add a small block of Edge-series phones if you have customers who already ask for more than a basic phone.
Treat the Razr 70 as a request-only item. Folding phones sell to a narrow group, so do not stack a full pallet.
Reorder in small lots. With prices moving, a big bet on one price tier is the riskiest move.
If you serve a market where customers finance phones or pay in installments, the premium tier may move even faster. If your buyers pay cash for entry-level phones, expect slower turns.
What to check before you commit
Ask for the exact model number and the version being offered, new or refurbished, with the grade. Confirm the bands work on your local carriers, and check your country's type approval rules before importing. We have country guides for the region, starting with our page on wholesale phones for Latin America.
We are not confirming Edge 70 or Razr 70 stock in this post. Ask for current availability. Orders start at 30 units, paid by wire transfer, FOB Miami. In-stock orders are delivered free to your freight forwarder in Miami, 24 to 48 hours after payment clears. Your forwarder handles export documents, shipping and customs. We provide the commercial invoice and packing list. Grade A+ and A refurbished phones carry a 60-day warranty from A1A, and new phones carry the manufacturer warranty.
See the full range on our wholesale cell phones page.
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