Smartphone shipments to return to growth in holiday quarter: IDC
As consumer spending shifts from travel, dining out and general leisure to consumer electronics during the Coronavirus pandemic , the global smartphone market is expected to return to growth during the holiday quarter this year amid strong push towards 5G, according to a new IDC report. According to the IDC 'Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker', smartphone shipments are forecast to grow 2.4 per cent (on-year) in the fourth quarter of 2020, followed by 4.4 per cent growth in 2021. The market rebound will be fuelled by an impressively quick supply chain recovery as well as significant incentives from both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and channels on new 5G products. "Despite concerns around weakness in 5G demand, smartphone volumes exceeded the forecast in 3Q20 and supply-side momentum headed into the holiday quarter and 2021 remains strong," said Ryan Reith, programme vice president with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. Read More