AI was supposed to lead to a supercycle of smartphone growth, not just among iPhone users but also Android.But it turns out, that’s simply not a thing yet—at least based on global 2024 smartphone trends.Sales are trending up, but not at all for the reasons you might expect.
No iPhone supercycle in sight, but smartphone shipments rebound anyways for a surprising reason This week the IDC (International Data Corporation) released its forecast for global smartphone shipments in 2024.Overall, total smartphone shipments are expected to grow 6.2% following a couple years of declines.iPhones are only growing 0.4%, so no supercycle there Androids, meanwhile, are growing 7.6% Why the positive trend? Are AI or foldables responsible? It turns out, no, not really.
Similarly with foldables, IDC notes that they “continue to grab headlines despite the low volumes in the market.” And in Q3, “foldables declined by 7.4%, even as most of the world’s prominent vendors launched new models.” So what’s the main driver behind smartphones’ 2024 success? “Low end devices.” That’s right.Big tech advancements in generative AI and unique designs like foldables are not behind the 2024 smartphone rebound.Instead, it’s simply overdue upgrades and low end devices providing a much-needed market boost.
Could 2025 change that? Sure.IDC says it still expects AI and foldables to lead to growth at the higher end over the coming years.But for now at least, there’s no sign yet of a big supercycle of upgrades thanks to AI.
What do you make of 2024’s smartphone trends? Is an iPhone supercycle coming? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessories AirPods Pro 2 (now only $154, discounted from $249) ESR MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone Anker 100W charging brick for fast charging 6.6ft USB-C cable for longer reach MagSafe Battery Pack 10,000mAh You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.
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