IDC: Manufacturers delivered 6 percent fewer smartphones in recent months

Manufacturers worldwide have delivered 6 percent fewer smartphones in total, according to analyst firm IDC. Samsung lost most ground, while Huawei and Xiaomi saw their deliveries rise sharply.

The decline in the smartphone market has now lasted for a total of a year, says IDC. Although the analyst firm won’t say what it thinks it is, previous figures indicate that people have started to spend longer with their smartphones. That is now possible, because many smartphones now have a guarantee that users will receive updates for two or three years to keep the device safe.

Samsung is the market leader with about 20 percent of the market, but IDC estimates that Apple will temporarily take over that position in the coming months with the release of the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max. Apple traditionally peaks towards the end of the year. In the long term, Samsung has to fear from Huawei, which has now been in second place for half a year and is quickly approaching. The difference in deliveries between Huawei and Samsung is now 20 million units per quarter, according to IDC; IDC puts Samsung at 72 million, Huawei at 52 million. Apple follows in third place with 46 million and Xiaomi with 34 million.

IDC estimates that the smartphone market will not shrink or even show growth again from next year. That would be because people who spend longer with their phones will upgrade at some point, while new smartphones with 5g will also come.