IDC Reports Annual Global Smartphone Shipments Fell, Though 5G a Bright Spot
Worldwide smartphone shipments slipped 0.5 percent last year to 1.46 billion, the first decline, with the U.S. market flat, IDC reported Tuesday. For 2018, IDC projects shipments to return to low single-digit growth, and forecasts a 2.8 percent compound annual…
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growth rate for 2017-2022, reaching 1.68 billion units. Analyst Ryan Reith said the premium space will continue to have 20 percent of the market, competition will continue to tighten, and consolidation “is inevitable.” IDC expects phablets to outship regular smartphones in 2018, “essentially ending the race for bigger screens.” The research firm expects commercial 5G smartphones to hit the market in 2019, reaching 18 percent of worldwide shipments by 2022. Demand for artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, contextual awareness and 5G will drive advances in overall core smartphone functions, said IDC. “Improvements in speed, power, battery life, and general performance will be critical in driving growth at a worldwide level as the smartphone evolves into a true all-in-one tool,” said analyst Anthony Scarsella.