Global smartphone shipments will grow until 2021, according to IDC’s updated forecast. 1.47 billion were sold in 2016 and this is expected to rise to 1.7 billion in 2021, with the researcher predicting a CAGR of 3.3% while there is still new user demand and a 2-year replacement cycle.
Android has around 85% of the market by volume with Apple taking 14-15% and a few disappearing platforms providing the rest. But by value, Apple is predicted to hold 36% of the market ($180 billion) by 2021, with the price of smartphones rising 7% in 2017 alone. The increase in screen size will lead to a rise in phablet offerings, with growth of 34% forecast for 2017 leading to phablet share of 40% of the smartphone market.
IDC says that this figure will be 51% by 2021. By region, Asia/Pacific takes 55% of the Android market with ASPs rising 17% over the forecast period. Meanwhile Apple is projected to see 9% growth once the iPhone 8 and 7S/7S+ arrive in 2018.
IDC Global Smartphone YoY Growth
Android (Purple) iOS (Blue) and Total
