Global smartphone industry, 4Q 2022

With many countries worldwide struggling with rising inflation and weakening consumer purchasing, in addition to the bankruptcy crisis within the banking industry, US and European central banks have decelerated their interest rate hikes, which could lead to uncertainties in the global economy and dampens consumer confidence.

Global smartphone shipments amounted to 307 million units in the fourth quarter of 2022 and are estimated to go down to around 260 million units, slipping a double-digit percentage sequentially in both quarters.

Compared to the forecasts made in December 2022, DIGITIMES Research has lowered the estimated numbers on whole-year 2022 and 2023 global smartphone shipments by four million units and 66 million units to 1.161 billion units and 1.124 billion units, respectively.