Q1 Decline ‘Clear Sign’ 2019 to Be ‘Another Down Year’ for Smartphones, Says IDC

Global smartphone shipments declined 6.6 percent to 310.8 million units, “a clear sign that 2019 will be another down year,” said IDC Tuesday. Shipments declined 4.1 percent, “inclusive of a first quarter” that was down 3.5 percent, roughly “just half of what the market experienced in Q1 this year, it said. "The overall smartphone market continues to be challenged in almost all areas, yet Huawei was able to grow shipments by 50%.” That made the brand “a clear number two in terms of market share,” and it’s “closing the gap” on leader Samsung, it said: “This new ranking of Samsung, Huawei, and Apple is very likely what we'll see" in 2019.