Smartphone Sales in Decline, but 5G-Powered Rebound Expected for 2020

closeup of person texting on mobile phone

In 2019, smartphone sales worldwide will dip 2.5 percent over last year, according to a forecast from research firm Gartner, with the largest declines expected in Japan (-6.5 percent), Western Europe (-5.3 percent) and North America (-4.4 percent).

One reason behind the decline, Gartner suggested, is that new smartphones aren't inspiring people to upgrade. "In mature markets, the high-end smartphone market is particularly oversupplied and commoditized, with higher average selling prices and no compelling new utility or experiences for users to upgrade to," said Roberta Cozza, senior research director at Gartner, in a statement.

"Lengthening smartphone replacement cycles and a ban on Huawei accessing technology from U.S.-based suppliers weakened demand for smartphones in the first half of 2019," added Annette Zimmermann, research vice president at Gartner. "We expect demand to get even weaker in the second half as replacement of high-, low- and mid-end smartphones continues to slow, due to low value benefits."

But in 2020, as 5G models and service packages become more broadly available, smartphone sales are projected to grow again. "Analysts also expect the first 5G Apple iPhone to launch in 2020, which should entice iPhone users to upgrade," Gartner noted.

The full report, "Forecast: Mobile Phones, Worldwide, 2017-2023, 2Q19 Update," is available to Gartner clients here.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • laptop displaying a phishing email icon inside a browser window on the screen

    Phishing Campaign Targets ED Grant Portal

    Threat researchers at cybersecurity company BforeAI have identified a phishing campaign spoofing the U.S. Department of Education's G5 grant management portal.

  • multiple computer monitors connected by glowing blue lines in a network grid

    Gartner Forecasts Increased Spending on Desktop as a Service as Cost Optimization, Sustainability Drive Adoption

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • stylized figures, resumes, a graduation cap, and a laptop interconnected with geometric shapes

    OpenAI to Launch AI-Powered Jobs Platform

    OpenAI announced it will launch an AI-powered hiring platform by mid-2026, directly competing with LinkedIn and Indeed in the professional networking and recruitment space. The company announced the initiative alongside an expanded certification program designed to verify AI skills for job seekers.

  • young man in a denim jacket scans his phone at a card reader outside a modern glass building

    Colleges Roll Out Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US has announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campuswide. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.