What They Say
Global smartphone shipments fell by slightly over 6% on year in the third quarter of 2020, improving significantly from the previous two quarters as demand for smartphones outside the China market rebounded, according to Digitimes Research.
Digitimes Research’s just-published five-year forecast report on global smartphone shipments has revised upward its forecast for global smartphone shipments for 2020 to 1.22 billion units, up from its July estimation of 1.15 billion units, and with the annual decline rate for global smartphone shipments narrowing to 10.4% in the year.
Smartphone shipments in China will decline 16.1% on year to 308 million units in 2020, while smartphone shipments outside China will slip 8.2% to 912 million units.
Global shipments of 5G phones are expected to reach over 260 million units in 2020, accounting for 20% of global smartphone shipments.
What We Think
With face to face contact so difficult, it’s not surprising that devices that improve digital contact are doing well now. The economic impact of Covid will, inevitably, weigh down on consumers’ upgrade choices as we go forward. (BR)
