This IDC study provides our 2025–2029 forecast for the mobile phone market."2024 saw a return to growth in the worldwide mobile phone market, growing 4.2% over 2023 levels," points out Ramon T. Llamas, research director with IDC's Mobile Devices and AR/VR team. "2025 is expected to continue that trend at a much slower pace as many of the same drivers we saw in 2024 — namely, sustained demand for 5G smartphones heading to emerging markets and a constant replacement market — will still be in effect.""At the same time, political and economic uncertainty will play a significant role in the worldwide smartphone market," adds Llamas. "For many, the mobile phone is an essential item in their lives, but higher prices can potentially dampen demand. We continue to monitor the situation around tariffs and trade as new developments arise."
IDC Market Forecast Figure
Executive Summary
Advice for Technology Suppliers
Market Forecast
Worldwide Mobile Phone Forecast, 2025–2029
Mobile Phone Forecast by Device Type
Feature Phones
Smartphones
Mobile Phone Forecast by Air Interface and Air Interface Group
GSM/CDMA
UMTS/WCDMA
4G
5G
Worldwide Mobile Phone Forecast by ASP
Market Context
Drivers and Inhibitors
Drivers
5G Handsets
Screen Sizes
Inhibitors
Replacement Cycles
Inflation
Significant Market Developments
Changes from Prior Forecast
Market Definition
Feature Phone
Smartphone
Methodology
Primary Data Sources
Secondary Sources
IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker
Related Research
Research Assistance
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