Sales of 5G “smartphones” “surpassed 4G sales for the first time” in 2022, Luce Francisco Jeronimo, IDC’s vice president of Europe, told Luce, a year in which the segment was “worth €934.30 million.”
By 2022 “sales of 5G smartphones” [quinta geração] surpassed 4G sales for the first time,” Lusa, IDC Europe vice president for mobile devices, said in an interview.
In fact, “5G sales already account for 58% of total smartphone sales” and this percentage “will continue to rise in the coming years, with fifth-generation device sales “comprising 95% of total smartphone sales in 2027,” it adds.
For example, the average selling price of 5G “smartphones” (535 euros in 2023) is “four times higher than devices (130 euros in 2023, and will remain so in the coming years,” says Francisco Jeronimo).
Last year, the smartphone market was “worth 934.30 million euros” and “in 2023, according to our estimates, it will reach 933.86 million euros,” the official estimates.
Despite the expectation of a decrease in the number of units sold, “the average price will continue to rise” – by about 2.3% – “so the total market value will remain at 934 million euros.”
Asked about sales prospects for this year, he says IDC estimates “a 2.3% drop in units sold, or €381 million”, due to slowing demand due to completion of the replacement cycle and an increase in the cost of living, although the average the price continues to rise.
As for the brands that lead the segment, IDC’s Europe vice president says he doesn’t appreciate changes in the “top 3” “ranking.”
“Samsung will continue to lead the market, Xiaomi will strengthen its position through a closer rapprochement with Samsung, and Apple will continue to occupy a comfortable third place and lead in the high-end segment,” says the person in charge.
Asked if the “smartphone” is expected to be replaced by a different type of device in the future, Francisco Jeronimo replied that “in the next five years” this “is not foreseen”.
“We will continue to see the continuous evolution of these devices in terms of “software” – they will continue to become more intelligent and be the “central control” for many other devices in our lives (“smart home devices”, including automobiles)” the official continues.
On the hardware side, “we will see a growing adoption of foldable smartphones as supply increases, prices drop, and users realize the benefits of having a phone and a tablet in one device,” we expect.
Overall, “we still have many years to go to make sure that the “smartphone” is a device of the past,” he concludes.