New York, United States – New research indicates that the smartphone market is on the road to recovery in 2024 after experiencing steep declines for two consecutive years. According to data released by IDC on Tuesday (Nov. 26), Apple’s iPhone played a minor role in the market’s resurgence compared to Android phones. IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecasts a 6.2% increase in global smartphone shipments for the year, driven by a pent-up demand for device upgrades, as stated in a news release by the research group.
While the smartphone market saw a significant rebound this year, IDC anticipates that growth will slow to single digits moving forward due to factors such as increasing smartphone penetration, longer refresh cycles, and a growing market for used phones. Senior research director Nabila Popal from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker emphasized that while Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) remains a top priority for many vendors, its impact on demand and early upgrades is yet to be significant.
Popal also mentioned that IDC projects smartphones utilizing GenAI to dominate the premium flagship devices market and reach a 70% share of the smartphone market by 2028. The report highlights that Android phones experienced rapid growth of 7.6% in regions such as Asia (excluding Japan and China), Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, particularly in lower-end devices. In contrast, Apple’s iOS phones are expected to see only a 0.4% increase for the year.
Analyzing the competitive landscape among smartphone manufacturers in utilizing AI to attract consumers, CEO Dmytro Tymoshenko of Noiz, a company that develops AI-powered summaries of YouTube videos, emphasized the ability of AI-powered apps to create personalized experiences at a rapid pace. Looking ahead to 2025, the report suggests that iOS is poised to outpace Android in growth, with a forecasted 3.1% increase year-over-year for iOS compared to 1.7% growth for Android over the same period.