It’s the ‘beginning of the end’ for smartphones, new report finds

It is the ‘beginning of the end’ for traditional smartphones, according to an annual technology report. 

Analysts believe that something entirely different may supplant the smartphone such as smart rings, bracelets and glasses. 

Even as top makers like Apple and Samsung unveil new handsets with improved performance, overall sales have flattened with most major markets largely saturated, the report found.  

 

In just over a decade, smartphones have become the hottest-selling consumer device around the world. However, even as top makers like Apple and Samsung unveil new handsets with improved performance, overall sales have flattened with most major markets largely saturated

The next catalyst for smartphones could be the possibilities offered by the forthcoming 5G, or fifth generation wireless networks, new form factors or advances in virtual and augmented reality.

Future Today Institute founder Amy Webb said in her annual report on technology trends that 2018 ‘marks the beginning of the end of traditional smartphones’.

She sees a transition to a new era of computing and connected devices based on voice, gesture and touch.

‘The transition from smartphones to smart wearables and invisible interfaces – earbuds that have biometric sensors and speakers; rings and bracelets that sense motion; smart glasses that record and display information – will forever change how we experience the physical world,’ Ms Webb writes.

Other analysts say the smartphone is not disappearing anytime soon, even if the market is pausing.

‘The smartphone is not going away, but it might change its shape and form factor,’ said David McQueen, an analyst on connected devices for ABI Research. 

‘The smartphone market still has legs for many years to come.’

Mr McQueen said in a recent report that the mobile industry is evolving to devices with more immersive touch-less experiences, fuelled by artificial intelligence, mixed reality and gesture control. 

New devices may also see improved biometrics such as face recognition, and changes such as foldable screens.

More than 1.4 billion smartphones will be sold this year, but many markets have become saturated, with consumers awaiting a new catalyst

More than 1.4 billion smartphones will be sold this year, but many markets have become saturated, with consumers awaiting a new catalyst

According to the latest research by Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments were down by 5.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016. This graph shows the year on year growth figures for the top performing manufacturers worldwide 

LATEST FIGURES ON DECLINING GROWTH IN THE SMARTPHONE SECTOR
Company Q3 2018 Shipments (millions of units) Q3 2018 Market Share Q3 2017 Shipments (millions of units) Q3 2017 Market Share Year on Year Change
Samsung 72.3 20.10% 83.4 21.20% -13.30%
Huawei 51.8 14.40% 39.1 9.90% 32.50%
Apple 46.9 13.00% 46.7 11.90% 0.40%
Xiaomi 33 9.20% 27.7 7.00% 19.10%
OPPO 31.2 8.70% 31.4 8.00% -0.60%
Others 124.8 34.70% 164.8 41.90% -24.30%
Total 360 100.00% 393.1 100.00% -8.40%

WHY ARE SALES OF SMARTPHONES IN DECLINE?

According to the latest research by Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments were down by 8.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same time last year.

Linda Sui, the firm’s director, said that the global smartphone market is ‘effectively in recession’.

The main reasons why this could be happening are:

  • The industry struggling to come to terms with heavily diminished carrier subsidies 
  • Inventory build up in several regions 
  • Lack of innovative and exciting hardware design
  • Customers going back to basics and buying retro non-smartphones such as the new Nokia range
  • People investing in more expensive high-end smartphones and keeping them for longer periods of time, for example what appears to be the case with Apple who are now charging over £700 for their latest devices

ABI Research says that ‘Google and Amazon will lead and drive innovation around smartphones and related ecosystems over the next five to six years’ because of their strength in these emerging technologies.

Global smartphone sales are expected to decline 0.7 per cent in 2018 to 1.455 billion units, according to research firm IDC. 

But IDC sees the overall smartphone market to slowly pick up again and reach 1.646 billion units by 2022.

‘We still believe the smartphone market has some healthy growth in the years to come, although finding and competing in those markets and segments is increasingly more challenging,’ said IDC analyst Ryan Reith.

In the United States, 91 per cent of adults under 50 use a smartphone and 95 per cent of teens have access to one, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Amazon has introduced an array of new devices powered by its Alexa digital assistant, which could be part of a "smart" ecosystem that replaces smartphones

Amazon has introduced an array of new devices powered by its Alexa digital assistant, which could be part of a ‘smart’ ecosystem that replaces smartphones

Europe had some 465 million mobile subscriptions at the end of 2017, representing 85 per cent of the population, with more than two-thirds of the devices smartphones, according to the mobile operators association GMSA.

Bob O’Donnell, founder of Technalysis Research, said smartphone sales have slowed in the US and some other developed markets as a result of the end of carrier subsidies.

‘Because people are paying full price for their phones they are holding on to them longer,’ Mr O’Donnell said.

The market may get a boost in 2019 from 5G and a likely appearance of the first devices with foldable or bendable displays, according to Mr O’Donnell.

‘People have been talking about (foldable screens) for some time and I think we may finally see the first ones next year,’ he said.

‘It will be interesting because it opens up the possibility of a larger screen in a smaller device.’

Apple's Jeff Williams discusses the Apple Watch Series 4, capable of performing an electrocardiogram; it's among new smart devices entering the marketplace

Apple’s Jeff Williams discusses the Apple Watch Series 4, capable of performing an electrocardiogram; it’s among new smart devices entering the marketplace

Mr O’Donnell contends that smartphones are still preferred by consumers despite the arrival of new devices like smart speakers from Amazon and Google.

But he said the next innovations are likely to be devices that are even ‘smarter’ than the current generation of handsets, with artificial intelligence that is built in.

‘If you have AI chips that are embedded in the device, you will be able to do a lot of things without a network connection,’ Mr O’Donnell said.

The analyst said the competition among tech firms is now centering around the smart digital assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri and others.

This is becoming a ‘battle of power over platforms that could influence the smartphone market,’ according to Mr O’Donnell, who noted that some things may change if the dominant player becomes Amazon, which makes a range of devices but not smartphones.

He it remains unclear what kind of device consumers will want, but that ‘at the end of the day is it going to look a lot like a smartphone.’

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