As offline stores remained closed and the unemployment rate surged, consumers are not upgrading their smartphones at the moment. Smartphone shipment was taking a hit in the first half of 2020: Qualcomm saw a 21% year over year decline of smartphone shipment in the first quarter and expects another 30% decline in the second quarter.

However, one part of the market is expected to hold up better: 5G smartphone. Key smartphone component providers including Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Qorvo are not lowering their outlook for 5G smartphone shipments for the full year. When consumers push out the upgrade to the second half of the year, it is much more likely the new device they get will support 5G. Key suppliers expect global 5G smartphone shipment to be above 200 million, with over 100 million just in China.

Global 5G Smartphone Shipment Outlook 2020

Close

Global 5G Smartphone Shipment Outlook 2020