After two years of decline, smartphone shipments rebound in 2024. According to new projections from IDC, the market will experience an increase of 6.2% and ship a total of 1.24 billion units. This growth is attributed to regions like Latin America, the Middle East, Africa or China, and was mainly driven by sales of affordable devices.
According to IDC data, Android device shipments will increase 7.6% this year, while iPhone shipments will only increase 0.4%. “Despite record performance in emerging markets like India, Apple faces challenges in larger markets, like China, the United States and Europe”explains IDC.
Less growth in 2025
Otherwise, IDC predicts less growth in smartphone shipments in 2025, due to increasing smartphone penetration worldwide, people keeping the same device longer, but also growth in smartphone sales second-hand or reconditioned.
Furthermore, next year, Android smartphone shipments would only increase by 1.7%, while iPhone shipments would increase by 3.1%.
AI would not yet have a significant impact
Otherwise, the year 2024 was also marked by the arrival of “AI” smartphones such as Samsung flagships which come with Galaxy AI, or even iPhones compatible with Apple Intelligence. But, according to IDC, if generative AI on smartphones has created the buzz, this year, we are still waiting for the impact that this technology will have on the market.
“While we continue to believe that GenAI will revolutionize the user experience in the years to come, additional investment is needed to raise consumer awareness and introduce a “must-have” feature that will rush consumers to the store and create that super cycle that everyone is waiting for”says Nabila Popal, senior research director. “For now, we believe that GenAI smartphones will take their place in high-end flagship devices and continue to move downmarket to quickly reach 70% of the smartphone market by 2028.”
Regarding folding smartphones, Anthony Scarsella, research director at IDC, explains that, despite the hype, this type of device still has a low shipping volume. However, IDC expects folding smartphone shipments to increase 10.5% this year, and for this double-digit growth to continue through 2028.
- IDC releases new projections for the smartphone market in 2024
- According to the report, shipments will grow by 6.2%.
- On the other hand, iPhone shipments would only increase by 0.4%
- IDC also indicates that, for the moment, AI has not yet really had an impact on the smartphone market.
- And folding smartphones still have low shipping volume, although this segment continues to show double-digit growth
