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📉Smartphone Shipments Plunge 20% in Q3

Smartphone sales tank, memory prices soar

TL;DR

Smartphone shipments fell by 20% in Q3, with memory costs surging 350% since last year. Samsung and Apple now control 45% of the market, up 8% from a year ago.

Smartphone shipments fell by at least 20% in Q3, according to IDC and Omdia, with memory costs soaring 350% since last year. This decline is hitting vendors hard, pushing them to hike prices and scale back on value devices. Samsung and Apple now account for 45% of global shipments, up 8% from a year ago. The market is expected to continue shrinking, with a 12% decline forecast for 2026 and another 6% drop in 2027. Vendors are adapting by switching to cheaper components to offset rising costs.

Smartphone Shipments Plunge 20% in Q3 — theregister

Key Points

1

Smartphone shipments fell by 20% in Q3, according to IDC and Omdia.

2

Memory costs surged 350% since last year, according to industry reports.

3

Samsung and Apple now account for 45% of global shipments, up 8% from a year ago.

4

Global smartphone shipments are expected to fall 12% in 2026 and another 6% in 2027.

5

Vendors are adapting by switching to cheaper components to offset rising costs.

Why It Matters

If you're in the smartphone market, this is a wake-up call. Samsung and Apple now control 45% of the market, up 8% from a year ago. The market is shrinking, with a 12% decline forecast for 2026. Vendors need to adapt to survive, with some switching to cheaper components to offset rising costs.

smartphoneshipmentsmemorycostsvendors

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