After a real roller coaster of results following the pandemic, the smartphone market finally seems to be heading towards a bullish cycle. And the forecasts could not be better, and even as in the case of the IDC analystsis improving compared to what was initially expected, already approaching 6% growth, something in which AI would have a lot to do with.
This year we have already seen several proposals from AI integrated into our smartphones, starting with those of Samsung and Google, and next week Apple will do the same with the iPhone 16. Well, it is estimated that a good part of the improvement in forecasts is due to the interest in this technology.
AI improves forecasting
At least that is what the analysis firm IDC claims, which has detailed the growth expected for this year 2024. While the first quarter of the year ended with a growth of 12% and the second with a growth of 9%, it is expected that for the second half of the year the data will continue to improve. In this way Growth of 5.8% would be achieved by 2024 compared to its predecessor. This represents an improvement in growth forecasts, which Until now they were at 4%reaching 1.2 billion smartphones.
Therefore, the improvement in forecasts is notableand according to IDC this is due to several factors. On the one hand, the lower end of the smartphone range is seeing an upturn in sales in developing and emerging countries. On the other hand, the premium mobile market is growing significantly thanks to the push of AI, which is already a determining purchasing factor for many consumers.
The analysis firm believes that the Android mobile sales growth is going to be very pronouncedreaching 7.1%, which is much higher than the growth rate of iOS, which will only reach 0.8%. In the latter case, there are two explanations. On the one hand, the greater competition that Apple has in China explains this improvement of Android compared to iOS, and secondly, Apple’s sales come from starting points with higher results, which now leave the sales results for this 2024 almost neutral compared to last year.
AI, key to Apple’s evolution
With Samsung reaping good sales of its Galaxy S24 thanks to Galaxy AI, and other players like Google with a strong component of this technology in its new Pixel 9, it remains to be seen how Apple’s performance will be in the coming quarters with the launch of its AI, Apple Intelligenceon the iPhone 16. If there is a good reception, probably those flat growth numbers on iOS would become somewhat more comfortable.
Therefore, much of Apple’s good work in this exercise will go through a good boost from AIas its competitors have already proven. However, the bulk of Apple’s AI is not expected to reach iPhones until the end of the year, so that push could still take a little longer to arrive.