Shipments of smartphones will decline 9.1 percent to 1.24 billion units in 2022, according to IDC.
While a recovery of 2.8 percent is still anticipated in 2023, IDC did reduce its 2023 smartphone forecast by roughly 70 million units.
The number of Android-based smartphones will reach 1,037 million units in 2023 and 1,146 million in 2026. The number of Apple iOS phones will reach 234 million in 2023 and 246 million in 2026, report from IDC said.
“Rising costs are an obvious concern for the smartphone market and adjacent consumer technology categories, but we believe most of this reduced demand will be pushed forward and will support global growth in late 2023 and beyond,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
“A device refresh cycle continues to build in many challenged emerging markets while developed markets have offset rising costs with increased promotional activity, more attractive trade-in offers, and extended financing plans. This has supported growth in the high-end of the market despite the economic headwinds.”
5G will account for just over half of smartphones shipped in 2022, rising to 80 percent by 2026. Foldable phones category is about 1-2 percent of the global market in 2022. It still accounts for roughly 15-16 million smartphones. This number will only grow as costs decrease and more OEMs get behind the form factor transition.
Average selling prices (ASPs) continue to grow as consumers opt for premium devices that can last three to four years as refresh rates elongate in both developed and emerging markets.
Smartphone ASPs are expected to grow for the third consecutive year as average selling prices will reach $413, up 6.4 percent from $388 in 2021. The last time the market witnessed ASPs surpass $400 was in 2011 ($425), when the market displayed over 60 percent shipment growth, Anthony Scarsella, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, said.
iOS unit share will reach 18.7 percent (the highest of any forecast year), which is a driving force behind the high ASP growth in 2022.
