Phablets set to grab bigger market share

THE GLOBAL smartphone market is expected to see steady if unspectacular growth in the next few years, as consumers turn increasingly to large-screen handsets known as ‘phablets’, a market tracker said recently.

A report by the research firm IDC said phablets – with displays larger than 5.5in – will account for some 40% of the 1.5 billion smartphones sold in 2017, and that the phablet share will rise to more than half by 2019.

The overall smartphone market is on a modest growth pace of around 3% that will boost global sales to 1.7 billion by 2021, according to IDC researchers.

But growth is coming from the large-screen devices as sales dip for conventional handsets with displays of 5.5 inches or less, IDC said.

“In 2012, phablets were just 1% of smartphone shipments and now they are approaching 50% of the market just a few years later,” said Ryan Reith, an IDC analyst.

“Consumers continue to consume more video entertainment, gaming, social media, and other data-heavy applications on their smartphones, making the display size and type a critical factor in smartphone-buying decisions,” Reith added.

IDC said iPhone buyers are following this trend, with the larger-screen Apple handsets to account for 41% of sales volume in 2017 and 50% or more in 2018.

IDC said the large-screen and ‘premium’ devices entering the market are likely to boost the average price of smartphones.

“There is no doubt that 2017 gave birth to the new ultra highend segment of the smartphone market,” said Anthony Scarsella, an IDC research manager.

“The latest flagship devices from Samsung, Apple, Google, LG, and others has pushed the high end to the US$850 (RM3,473) and above level for the first time.

“Despite these price hikes, consumers look as if they are willing to swallow the cost just to have the latest and greatest device in their pockets.”

Average selling prices for smartphones are expected to rise to US$317 (RM1,295) by 2021, up from US$282 (RM1,152) in 2016.

IDC estimated the market share for Android-powered devices to be 85.1% this year, and mirror the overall market over the next few years to hit 85.3% by 2021.

The market share for Apple is estimated at 14.8% in 2017, and seen slipping to 14.6% by 2021, IDC said. – AFP