Global Smartphone Shipments Expected to Grow 5.3% in 2021, Despite Supply Chain Constraints, According to IDC

NEEDHAM, Mass — According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, shipments of smartphones will grow 5.3% year over year in 2021, reaching 1.35 billion shipments. 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 forecast for 2021 and 2022 from 7.4% and 3.4% to 5.3% and 3.0% 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 sale 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,” said 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 over year respectively. However, due to the robust growth in the first half of this year, all regions except China will finish 2021 on a positive note. Within China, a slowdown in consumer demand will have shipments finishing flat to slightly lower in 2021 (-0.2% year over year) and 2022 (-0.6% year over 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-over-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 to more affordable 4G devices, which saw a year-over-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, thanks 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% compared to 2020, and fall to $109 by the end of the forecast period. China is forecast to be the largest market for 5G smartphones in 2021 with 46.9% of shipments, followed by the United States 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,” said 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.”