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Smartphone shipments plunge 22% in record quarterly drop, IDC reports

Global smartphone shipments fell 22% year over year to 255.3 million units during the September quarter, marking the market's worst quarterly drop on record as rising memory costs took a toll.

Global smartphone shipments dropped 22% year over year in the September quarter to 255.3 million units, marking the market's worst quarterly decline on record, according to market researcher IDC. The research firm cited surging memory costs as the driver behind the steep downturn and warned of worse conditions ahead.[3][4][5]

Market dynamics diverged sharply among major manufacturers during the quarter. While industry leaders Samsung and Apple managed to record gains, Chinese competitors Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo experienced steeper declines, IDC reported.[3]

The sharp contraction was also covered by Bloomberg, which reported that the global smartphone market experienced its worst quarter ever. Market commentary from Polymarket added that soaring memory costs affecting shipments have been fueled by artificial intelligence demand.[1][2][4]

Key facts

  • Global smartphone shipments fell 22% year over year to 255.3 million units in Q3, according to IDC.
  • IDC characterized the 22% drop as the smartphone market's worst quarterly decline on record.
  • IDC attributed the contraction to rising memory costs and warned of worse to come.
  • Samsung and Apple gained shipments during the quarter, whereas Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo posted deeper declines.
  • Polymarket stated that the soaring memory costs hitting shipments were fueled by AI demand.

Sources · 5 sources

  1. UW

    unusual_whales@unusual_whalesPost on X ·

    JUST IN: The global smartphone market has had its worst quarter ever, per Bloomberg

    Open source
  2. PO

    Polymarket@PolymarketPost on X ·

    JUST IN: Global smartphone shipments plunge 22% in the worst quarterly decline on record, driven by soaring memory costs fueled by AI demand.

    Open source
  3. TE

    Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·

    Global smartphone shipments fell 22% YoY to 255.3M in Q3, a record quarterly drop, as Samsung and Apple gained while Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo saw deeper declines (IDC) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

    Open source
  4. BL

    Bloomberg@businessPost on X ·

    The smartphone market suffered its worst decline on record in the September quarter, after rising memory costs pushed shipments down 22% with worse to come, according to market researcher IDC https://t.co/L8cCJTy1EV

    Open source
  5. BU

    businessline@businesslinePost on X ·

    Smartphone shipments crash 22% in worst quarter ever: IDC The smartphone market suffered its worst decline on record in the September quarter, after rising memory costs pushed shipments down 22% with worse to come, according to market researcher IDC. https://t.co/SpGVDUkdak

    Open source