IDC said the revised outlook represents a significant downgrade from its November forecast as a worsening memory-component shortage ripples across the consumer electronics supply chain.
Investments in AI are expected to grow by more than 70% during the year, reflecting a shift from experimentation to operational deployment across industries.
Apple maintained its leadership for the third consecutive year, achieving record-high shipments and a strong rebound in China fueled by the success of the iPhone 17 series.
The stronger-than-expected finish capped a volatile year for the PC market, shaped by the end of support for Windows 10, which triggered a broad upgrade cycle, and by early concerns over tariffs that pushed vendors to accelerate inventory purchases.
The global foldable smartphone market is set for a major lift in 2026, with industry analysts pointing to Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone as the biggest driver of consumer demand and market value, according to new projections from research firm IDC.
Following six consecutive quarters marked by several product refreshes and a replacement cycle upswing, the tablet market began to show signs of cooling.
IDC said the rebound was driven largely by strong demand in the premium segment, where consumers upgraded to the latest devices featuring innovative designs and AI capabilities.
According to preliminary data from analyst firm IDC, global smartphone shipments increased 1.0% year-over-year (YoY) to 295.2 million units in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25).
