TrendForce: Apple expected to decline even further in 2019

TrendForce has revealed its predictions for the smartphone market in 2019, with emphasis on the Chinese market, and the big OEMs.

According to the analytics company, the global smartphone market is expected to see a decline in 2019. In Q3 2018, the smartphone market saw a 6.0% drop in shipments, according to IDC, and TrendForce expects that form to continue across 2019.

Samsung is expected to also see a drop in its yearly shipment figures, after it recorded a heavy 8% year-on-year decline in 2018, although it still managed to ship an earth-shaking 293 million units. The South Korean company is projected to retain its place as the biggest smartphone company in the world, with a 20% market share.

American giants Apple had a lackluster 2018. The company’s first half of 2018 was on par with the same period in 2017, but its second-half performance was disappointing, with the new iPhones failing to sell well. H2 2018 figures were a 7% drop from H2 2017 numbers, and total yearly shipments were 3% down as a result. The company is expected to see a further drop in fortunes and could ship just 189 million units in 2019, with its market share dropping from 15% to 13%.

Chinese company Huawei saw a 30% rise in shipment figures, ending the year with 205 million units shipped. The company is expected to ship 225 million units in 2019, finishing the year with a 16% market share, ahead of Apple.

Xiaomi shipped 123 million units in 2018, up 32% from its 2017 total. The company’s growth is expected to slow down in 2019, though, and is projected to finish with about 129 million units shipped this year. We’re a bit leery about this particular prediction, as Xiaomi’s moves in the market are likely to land it shipment numbers significantly more impressive than what TrendForce expects. The new Redmi and Pocophone sub-brands are incredibly popular, and we expect them to help push Xiaomi sales in developing markets.