Dec 16 : Global smartphone shipments are anticipated to say no 2.1 per cent subsequent yr as rising chip prices are prone to impression demand, technology-focused market analysis agency Counterpoint stated on Tuesday.
Electronics provide chains around the globe have been hit by a scarcity of legacy reminiscence chips in current months as producers turned their focus to high-end reminiscence chips fitted to semiconductors designed for AI purposes.
What we’re seeing now could be the low finish of the market (under $200) being impacted most severely, with bill-of-materials prices (whole price of elements) rising by 20 per cent to 30 per cent for the reason that starting of the yr, Counterpoint’s Research Director MS Hwang stated.
Chinese Smartphone manufacturers similar to Honor Device and Oppo are anticipated to be extra susceptible, significantly within the entry-level section, resulting from tight margins, the report stated.
“Apple and Samsung are best-positioned to weather the next few quarters,” Counterpoint senior analyst Yang Wang stated.
The analysis agency stated final month that Nvidia’s transfer to make use of smartphone-style reminiscence chips in its synthetic intelligence servers might trigger server-memory costs to double by late 2026.
As every AI server wants extra reminiscence chips than a handset, the change is predicted to create sudden demand that the trade is just not geared up to deal with, based on Counterpoint.
Earlier this month, analysis agency IDC additionally stated it expects a decline of 0.9 per cent in 2026 smartphone shipments globally, citing rising reminiscence chip costs.