News: Markets
3 December 2021
Smartphone shipments to grow 5.3% in 2021, despite lower-than-expected Q3 amid supply chain constraints
Shipments of smartphones will grow 5.3% year-on-year in 2021 to 1.35 billion units, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. However, due to the lower-than-expected third quarter and the continued component shortages and logistical challenges, which may not improve until mid-2022, IDC has lowered its growth forecasts for 2021 from 7.4% to 5.3% and for 2022 from 3.4% to 3%, respectively. Looking at 2023 and beyond, IDC continues to expect a modest but healthy 3.5% five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) fueled by pent-up demand, declining average selling prices (ASPs), and continued transition from feature phones to smartphones.
“Although we expected a slowdown in the third quarter, the market declined by almost twice the projected rate as the supply chain and logistical challenges hit every major player in the market. Moreover, the shortage is more heavily concentrated on 4G components than 5G, which will impact vendors with a higher portfolio mix of 4G devices than vendors with a higher proportion of 5G models. These challenges surrounding 4G components have shifted our short-term forecast for Android more than iOS, which is now primarily 5G,” says Nabila Popal, research director with IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. “On the positive side, this is expected to accelerate the jump to 5G, which is now forecast to be almost 60% of worldwide shipments by this time next year, slowing the decline in smartphone ASPs over the forecast period.”
Heading into the holiday quarter, all regions are forecast to see a single-digit decline, with the most significant decreases expected in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan and China) (APeJC) and China, where shipments will be down 9.1% and 8.4% year-on-year, respectively. However, due to the robust growth in first-half 2021, all regions except China will finish 2021 on a positive note. Within China, a slowdown in consumer demand will lead to shipments finishing flat to slightly lower in 2021 (-0.2% year-on-year) and 2022 (-0.6% year-on-year). Demand in all other regions remains strong, with almost no channel inventory as supply continues to be less than demand. IDC expects this unmet demand will be pushed forward into the coming quarters and years, contributing to healthy long-term growth.
5G devices are expected to deliver year-on-year growth of 117% in 2021, driven by a supply-side push from both vendors and channels. The shift to 5G translates to greater revenues for most vendors compared with more affordable 4G devices, which saw a year-on-year decline of 22.5% in shipments. 5G-powered smartphones are expected to have a $643 ASP in 2021, which is 1.7% higher than 2020, due to the massive success of iPhone 12 and 13 devices that are all 5G. By the end of the forecast period, IDC expects the 5G ASP to drop to $416. The ASP for 4G devices is expected to reach $204 in 2021, down 26.5% on 2020, and fall to $109 by the end of the forecast period. China is forecasted to be the largest market for 5G smartphones in 2021 with 46.9% of shipments, followed by the USA at 16.1% and APeJC at 12.8%. However, China’s share is expected to drop to 30.5% by 2025 as other regions ramp up their 5G networks and connectivity.
“As with our previous forecast, 2021 will represent peak average selling prices as Android will end the year at $265 while iOS climbs to a staggering $950,” says Anthony Scarsella, research director with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “The continued demand for premium models in developed markets has 2021 ASPs growing 11.4% to $382, up from $343 one year ago. In addition, the record-breaking $950 ASP for iOS in 2021 has Apple controlling nearly 43% of all smartphone revenues despite only a 17.1% market share. However, moving forward, prices in the overall market will slowly fall as 5G devices will decline 14.5% in 2022 while 4G devices drop more than 18% next year as the market continues to shift towards 5G.”
Smartphone shipments to grow 5.5% in 2021, driven by strong 5G push and pent-up demand
Smartphone market to fall 7.9% from $458.5bn in 2019 to $422.4bn in 2020
