STAMFORD, Conn.—Expect 2016 to end as another year in which shipments of mobile phones are down.
Research firm Gartner is projecting the number of mobile phones in transit during the year will decline by 1.6%, PhoneArea.com reported.
If Gartner’s expectations are accurate, 2016 will mark the second consecutive year of lower shipments in the industry. Last year, mobile phone deliveries declined by 0.75% from the prior year. Gartner expects mobile phone shipments to return to positive growth in 2017, PhoneArea.com reported.
For 2017, Gartner is more optimistic, predicting mobile phone shipments will increase 1.2% to 1.9 billion units from the 1.89 billion expected to be delivered this year. In 2018, mobile phone shipments are estimated to rise 1.2% to 1.93 million handsets.
Expect premium models to return to growth in 2017, according to Gartner, which foresees a 3.5% hike in these deliveries next year. Tablet shipments are expected to continue to decline, PhoneArea.com reported.