IDC: Global smartphone shipments to grow by 1.5% driven by outstanding demand for iPhone 17 series

A total of 1.25 billion smartphones will be shipped in 2025, which represents a 1.5% increase compared to the figures for 2024. The latest International Data Corporation (IDC) report reflects an updated forecast that is reportedly driven by Apple’s continued success with the iPhone 17 series.

Cupertino is now forecasted to push over 247 million iPhone 17 series units in 2025, driven by favourable demand factors like an accelerated push in the holiday quarter, alongside growing demand in emerging markets and in China.

According to IDC’s China Monthly Sales data, massive demand for the iPhone 17 helped Apple secure the top spot in back-to-back months for October and November. The better-than-expected iPhone 17 demand also helped iOS edge out Android and HarmonyOS in terms of annual growth.

This performance also helped revise Apple’s projected 1% decline for 2025 smartphone shipments in China to a 3% growth figure. And it’s not just China, the figures also indicate similar performance across the US and Western Europe.

But it’s now all sunshine as IDC predicts a 1% decline in shipments for 2026, mainly due to rising memory component costs, which are projected to raise the average smartphone selling price to $465. In addition, Apple’s rumored revised launch schedule for the base iPhone 18 from fall 2026 to early 2027 would also negatively impact the whole market’s 2026 preliminary figures, leading to a 1% decrease in shipments.

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