Strategy Analytics research report predicts that in a neutral scenario, global smartphone sales will decline by 5% year-on-year in 2023. Consumer demand for new smartphone devices has further weakened under the influence of various factors this year.
Compared to the June 2022 version, the SA agency has increased its forecast figures for smartphone sales in 2023 for Huawei’s HarmonyOS operating system. The Chinese vendor has managed to stabilize its global performance with its 4G product portfolio, and its performance in the domestic market has exceeded expectations. The report shows that Huawei HarmonyOS phones will have a global share of 2 percent in 2022.
At the same time, the report lowered sales forecasts for Apple’s iOS system, mainly due to sharp fluctuations in the manufacturing supply chain for Apple products. 18 percent of iOS phones will be available in 2022. 17 percent in 2027.
The report also lowered sales forecast figures for Android, which has suffered the most from unfavorable market conditions. In addition to weak demand, major Android vendors are facing inventory overhang and strong resistance from overseas markets amid geopolitical tensions and globalization trends. 80 percent of Android phones will be sold in 2022, and 83 percent in 2027.
Nevertheless, Android will remain the largest smartphone operating system in the global market during the forecast period, with approximately 80 percent of sales. Apple iOS will see solid growth, benefiting from Huawei’s decline in the high-end market and the penetration of legacy and new SE devices into the lower price segments.
SA reported that while the initial performance of the HarmonyOS operating system exceeded the report’s expectations, it remains cautious about its future given Huawei’s bleak outlook in the smartphone segment and assuming that the government does not impose interference in local manufacturers’ decisions on operating systems.
