-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueCreating the Ideal Data Package
Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal design data package for your design.
Designing Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
Learning to Speak ‘Fab’
Our expert contributors clear up many of the miscommunication problems between PCB designers and their fab and assembly stakeholders. As you will see, a little extra planning early in the design cycle can go a long way toward maintaining open lines of communication with the fab and assembly folks.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
IDC Decreases its Worldwide Smartphone Forecast to 0.6% for 2025 Amidst Uncertainty and Tariff Volatility
June 3, 2025 | IDCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

Worldwide smartphone shipments are forecast to grow 0.6% year-over-year (YoY) in 2025 to 1.24 billion units, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. The forecast was reduced from the 2.3% growth in the February forecast, due to high uncertainty, tariff volatility and macro-economic challenges such as inflation and unemployment across many regions leading to a slowdown in consumer spending. Growth will remain in low single digits throughout the forecast period, with a five-year (2024-2029) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4% due to increasing smartphone penetration, lengthening refresh cycles, and cannibalization from used smartphones.
Despite the increased tensions, the US and China are driving the 0.6% growth this year. China is forecast to grow 3% YoY driven by government subsidies which will stimulate demand and continue to boost Android. In contrast, Apple is forecast to decline 1.9% in 2025 due to ongoing competition from Huawei, overall economic slowdown, and the ineligibility of a majority of its models for government subsidies capped at 6,000 Yuan. However, heavy discounts during the upcoming 618 shopping festival and the anticipated iPhone 17 launch with significant hardware upgrades are expected to boost demand and limit further decline.
"The US Market is forecast to grow 1.9% in 2025, but it was impacted from the ongoing US-China trade war as growth was pulled down from 3.3% due to increased uncertainty and tariff related price increases,” said Anthony Scarsella, research director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "Further negative impact was prevented by the unique structure of the US smartphone market, where majority of devices are bought through carriers which help fuel demand by offering robust trade in deals and interest free financing programs. As a result, the forecasted 4% growth in average selling prices of smartphones will have less immediate impact on consumers, especially with many new premium devices launching in the second half of the year.”
“Since April 2nd, the smartphone industry has faced a whirlwind of uncertainty. While current exemptions on smartphones have offered temporary relief, the looming possibility of broader tariffs presents a serious risk,” said Nabila Popal, senior research director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Recent signals from the US administration on potential tariffs hikes on smartphones manufactured outside the US further complicate long-term strategic planning for OEMs. Smartphone vendors — particularly those shipping to the US — must now navigate complex geopolitics alongside ongoing supply chain diversification efforts. Despite these headwinds, India and Vietnam are expected to remain the key alternatives to China for smartphone production. However, additional tariffs of 20-30% on US bound smartphones could post a serious downside risk to the current U.S. market outlook.”
Suggested Items
Almonty Joins DARPA Funded Critical Minerals Forum
05/20/2025 | BUSINESS WIREAlmonty Industries Inc., a leading global producer of tungsten concentrate, announced that, upon being invited to join, it has attained membership in the Critical Minerals Forum (CMF), a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)-funded not-for-profit trade association dedicated to building resilient and diversified critical minerals supply chains.
AI Chips for the Data Center and Cloud Market Will Exceed US$400 Billion by 2030
05/09/2025 | IDTechExBy 2030, the new report "AI Chips for Data Centers and Cloud 2025-2035: Technologies, Market, Forecasts" from market intelligence firm IDTechEx forecasts that the deployment of AI data centers, commercialization of AI, and the increasing performance requirements from large AI models will perpetuate the already soaring market size of AI chips to over US$400 billion.
Gartner Forecasts Worldwide GenAI Spending to Reach $644 Billion in 2025
03/31/2025 | Gartner, Inc.Worldwide generative AI (GenAI) spending is expected to total $644 billion in 2025, an increase of 76.4% from 2024, according to a forecast by Gartner, Inc.
Global Total Semiconductor Equipment Sales Forecast to Reach a Record of $139 Billion in 2026
12/09/2024 | SEMIGlobal sales of total semiconductor manufacturing equipment by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are forecast to set a new industry record, reaching $113 billion in 2024, growing 6.5% year-on-year, SEMI announced in its Year-End Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM Perspective at SEMICON Japan 2024.
Gartner Forecasts MENA IT Spending to Grow 7.4% in 2025
11/20/2024 | Gartner, Inc.IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is projected to total $230.7 billion in 2025, an increase of 7.4% from 2024, according to the latest forecast by Gartner, Inc.