14 DAY TRIAL // The International Data Corporation (IDC) has just made predictions regarding smartphone shipments this year and the next. The report reveals that worldwide smartphone shipments will grow this year by 3.0% compared to 2016. The growth was 2.6% last year, the lowest growth that the industry ever experienced.
IDC predicts shipments will increase to 1.52 billion this year, as major devices were released or are about to make their debut. Moreover, the report suggests that the industry will retain its momentum in 2018, with a 4.5% growth rate expected next year, thanks to “improved economic conditions and emerging markets and a full year of new iPhone shipments from Apple.”
“2016 was an interesting year for smartphones with some high-growth markets down and other mature markets like the U.S. and China outpacing global growth rates,” said Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers.
Phones with bigger displays are increasingly appealing to consumers
The IDC predicts that a number of factors will determine growth in the smartphone market, especially the fact that people using low-end devices will most likely seek more powerful smartphones in the next period of time. In addition, consumers will be attracted to devices that support augmented and virtual reality, while mobile consumption, gaming and constant connectivity are key factors in the market.
Moreover, Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have already left a mark in the industry, while consumers are anticipating the launch of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8, which IDC says is “one of Apple's biggest, if not the biggest, product announcements.”
In the next couple of years, smartphone makers will compete against each other in providing the best device display, while Samsung and LG already opted for borderless screens, while Apple is expected to join the list later this year. Phones with 5.5 and 6-inch displays will capture the biggest market share in 2021.
In terms of the OS market, Android and iOS will keep their positions on the market over the next five years, with Android capturing slightly more than 85% of the market and iOS keeping its second position with 15%.