IDC sees smartphone shipments growing this year after a slump in 2016

Last year was the worst ever for global smartphone shipments as handset deliveries rose only 2.5% for 2016. According to analytical firm IDC, business will start returning to growth  mode as the number of shipments should rise by 3% this year. That amounts to 1.52 billion units forecast by IDC to be delivered this year. And for 2018, the increase in shipments will reach 4.5%. IDC says that improved economic conditions in emerging markets will partially be responsible for a 50% hike in growth. Another reason will be the extreme popularity of  the tenth anniversary Apple iPhone that has been dubbed the iPhone 8. IDC also says that half of the world's population doesn't own a smartphone.

IDC sees iPhone sales growing 3.8% this year and building on that figure next year. The analytical firm predicts that Apple will ship 223.6 million handsets this year, a slight decline from previous forecasts. But the firm raised its 2018 shipping estimate to 240.4 million units, which would be a 7.5% gain year-over-year. As for Android, the fastest growing region is the Middle East and Africa with 10% year-over-year growth. By 2021, IDC sees 1.5 billion Android phones shipping with an average selling price of $198.

The analytics firm expects that displays will be the next battlefield over the next two years. IDC cites the new 18:9 borderless displays from Samsung and LG as a prelude to bigger, brighter and bolder screens that will allow consumers to enjoy a better media streaming experience from their handsets.

Overall, IDC doesn't anticipate much change in market share over the next five years. By 2021, Android will own 85.5% of the smartphone market from this year's estimate of 85.1% Apple will see its slice of the pie decline from 14.7% to 14.5%, and Windows Phone will go from .1% of the market to practically 0%. 


source: IDC via FierceWireless