Smartphone shipments sank 11 percent worldwide in the second quarter, compared to the same level a year earlier, reaching the lowest second-quarter levels since 2013, amid an ongoing crunch in DRAM memory and NAND storage chips, according to preliminary figures from researcher Counterpoint.
The figures are in line with Counterpoint’s projections for a record market contraction of 14 percent this year. IDC has projected a similar 12.9 percent contraction over 2025.
DRAM and NAND prices continued to surge through the quarter as suppliers continued to prioritise demand from AI data centres over consumer electronics, forcing OEMs to pass along rising prices to consumers via repeated price hikes, especially for entry and mid-tier devices, researchers said.
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Record contraction
