Smartphone market 2026: a sharp decline is expected

Analyst estimates are pessimistic about smartphone market growth this year compared to 2025: -12.4% according to Counterpoint, -12.9% according to IDC, and between -7% and 15% according to Omdia. On average, this represents a drop of more than one billion units distributed worldwide in 2026, compared to the previous year. Smartphone market 2026: expected price increase for devices. This decline would follow two consecutive years of growth, primarily due to RAM shortages, which are becoming more expensive for manufacturers. Also noteworthy is the war in the Middle East, resulting in higher transport costs and currency instability. The result is higher smartphone prices for consumers, who are less inclined to purchase a new device.