- IDC reports a 1% rise in global smartphone shipments in Q2 2025, despite trade tariffs and macroeconomic pressures.
- Samsung leads the growth with 7.9% shipment gain, while Apple records a smaller increase amid weak China demand.
What happened: IDC reports Q2 smartphone growth despite tariffs
Global smartphone shipments grew by just 1% in Q2 2025, reaching approximately 295 million units, according to IDC’s preliminary data. The slight slowdown—from 1.5% growth in Q1—was blamed on economic uncertainty driven by US tariffs, impacting low-end device demand. Samsung performed strongest, with shipments up 7.9% to 58 million units, while Apple saw a modest 1.5% rise despite continued weakness in China. IDC also cut its full‑year shipment growth forecast to 0.6% in May, down from 2.3%, citing persistent macroeconomic headwinds.
Also Read: IDC cuts 2025 smartphone forecast on global uncertainty
Also Read: Samsung’s new foldables start at $1,079, top out at $2,749
Why it’s important
A 1% growth in smartphone shipments—amid tariff tensions, inflation, and economic unease—signals market resilience rather than stagnation. Slowed demand, especially at the budget end, shows consumers are cautious about upgrading under financial pressure, impacting lower-cost Android manufacturers most. To counter this, brands are shifting focus by embedding AI features in more affordable models, aiming to spur purchases and boost average selling prices—an approach that could reshape device innovation and pricing models.
Samsung’s outperformance highlights strategic agility, balancing premium and mid-range lines to outperform rivals when others falter . Even Apple’s modest growth suggests that global diversification—beyond China—can help weather regional demand shifts. For consumers, this trend means more AI-enhanced features are available in mid-tier phones and manufacturers may price these models more competitively. Growth at all foretold levels underscores the smartphone’s ongoing role in global connectivity, development of digital services, and emerging mobile applications such as AR, AI and enterprise features.
