Entering 2023, most countries worldwide, especially emerging markets, are still struggling from high inflation and see weakening consumer demand as a result. DIGITIMES Research estimates that global smartphone shipments slipped 13.2% on year to come to only 264 million in the first quarter of 2023 and will witness an on-year decline of 6.4% to reach volumes of 257 million units in the second quarter, according to DIGITIMES Research's latest report covering the global smartphone industry.
DIGITIMES Research adjusted the forecast on whole-year 2023 global smartphone shipments downward from the projection given in March by 23 million units to 1.1 billion units.
Smartphone shipments to China in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the forecast made in March, were raised by DIGITIMES Research to 62 million units, down 7.2% from a year ago, while combined volumes to non-China markets in the first quarter were reduced to 202 million units, down 14.9% on year, the report's figures show.
DIGITIMES Research also cut its forecast on global 5G smartphone shipments in 2023 significantly from the original expectation of 679 million units to only 577 million units, down 1.9% on year.
