Global 2016 Smartphone Shipments to Grow at Relatively Flat 1.6%, Says IDC

IDC sees global smartphone shipments growing at a relatively flat 1.6 percent rate this year, reaching 1.46 billion units, the research firm said in a Thursday report. Though growth “remains positive, it is down significantly” from the 10.4 percent growth rate in 2015 compared with 2014, IDC said. “Much of the slowdown is attributed to the decline expected in developed regions in 2016, while emerging markets continue with positive growth.” Consumer preference for larger screens is expected to continue and the growing interest in virtual and augmented reality “will only drive that forward” as models with screens 5.5 inches and larger go from roughly a quarter of the smartphone market to a third by 2020, IDC said. As larger-screen models gain in share and popularity, “we expect to see a myriad of vendors further expanding their portfolio of large-screened devices but at more affordable price points compared to market leaders Samsung and Apple," it said. IDC fixes Android’s 2016 share at 85.3 percent vs. Apple’s 13.9 percent, it said. By 2020, it pegs Android’s share at 85.7 percent to Apple’s 14.2 percent, with other platforms like Windows Phone approaching extinction.