IDC is expecting the highest smartphone sales growth since 2015. We’re talking about this year overall, so for the whole of 2021, not just a specific quarter. IDC expects smartphone shipments to reach 1.38 billion units in 2021.
IDC expects quite a significant smartphone sales growth in 2021
If that ends up happening, it would present an increase of 7.7-percent over last year. IDC also expects that trend to continue into 2022, as the company expects year-over-year growth of around 3.8-percent. Shipments are expected to reach 1.43 billion smartphones in 2022.
This market research company did offer some explanation for such claims. It says that markets worldwide continue to migrate towards 5G. That goes for markets where 5G networks are deployed, of course.
On top of that, in emerging markets, the demand for low-end and mid-range 4G phones is quite strong. The demand for such devices wasn’t as strong last year, mainly due to the pandemic, so things are changing.
A low, single-digit growth will continue through 2025
IDC actually predicts a low, single-digit growth to continue all the way through 2025. It expects a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7-percent. Do note that the global chip shortage presents an issue, though, the smartphone market is not excluded from these problems.
IDC notes that the chip shortage hasn’t been as noted in the smartphone market as it has been in the automotive, PC, and various other consumer tech categories.
It was also noted that 5G shipments are expected to grow nearly 130-percent in 2021. It is claimed that all regions outside of China will see a huge, triple-digit growth by the end of this year.
China is still expected to lead the way when it comes to 5G. It will have a nearly 50-percent share of 5G shipments in 2021, it is claimed, while the US will follow with a 16-percent share.
Western Europe and other Asia/Pacific regions (excluding China and Japan), are expected to have a combined 23.1-percent share of the worldwide 5G market by the end of this year.