A weaker economic outlook and persistent inflation mean global smartphone shipments are expected to fall 3.2% in 2023, according to a new forecast from International Data CorporationsGlobal quarterly cell phone tracker. The forecast is even worse than thatthe last-- The figures have been revised down from the 1.1% decline forecast in February.
Smartphone sales are now expected to total 1.17 billion units this year.
It's not all bad news, however. Despite the lower forecast for 2023, IDC reports that it expects a recovery in the smartphone market in 2024, with 6% year-on-year growth. Butconsumer demandis recovering much slower than expected in all regions, the report said.
“If 2022 was a year of excess inventories, 2023 is a year of caution”Nabila Popal, research director at IDCsMobility and tracking of consumer devices, said a statement. “While everyone wants to own stocks that are ready to ride the wave of the inevitable recovery, no one wants to be stuck and hold them for too long. This also means that the brands that take the risk – at the right time – can potentially reap big profits. from stock gains.”
Read more:Best phone to buy for 2023
A certain type of telephone is developing more and more possibilities: the futuristic appearancefoldable phones.
“We continue to see more foldable designs in the market, which is a major technological step forward for the industry, but the timing is unfortunate,” said Ryan Reith, group director, Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers at IDC, in a statement.
As CNET reported in our review of thebest foldable phones, the flip phone market is dominated bySamsung Galaxy Z Fold 4InZ-flip 4. But Google recently took the wraps off its first foldable tablet, thePixelvouwMotorola has launched an updated version of its folding systemRazrflip phone and bothEerInIn return foroffer folding models.
If you're upgrading your phone this year, CNET also has lists of our picksbest phones in 2023,best Android phone in 2023Inbest phone under $500.
