【Watch Fresh Feet Afternoon Online】

2018 was "the worst year ever for smartphone shipments,Watch Fresh Feet Afternoon Online" according to the research firm IDC.

Total shipments fell by 4.1 percent compared to 2017, as both Apple and Samsung struggled to drum up strong sales for their products, IDC reported on Wednesday. (The year before, annual growth in the smartphone sector was pretty much flat.)

"Globally the smartphone market is a mess right now," IDC analyst Ryan Reith said in a statement. "Outside of a handful of high-growth markets like India, Indonesia, Korea, and Vietnam, we did not see a lot of positive activity in 2018."

So why the shipment drop? According to IDC, people are holding off upgrading to the newest phones like they used to. Many consumers also have gripes with the rising prices.

Another big factor is the economic uncertainty, particularly in China, which accounts for about 30 percent of the world's smartphone consumption. The country had an "even worse 2018 than the previous year," with shipments down over 10 percent, the research firm said.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

IDC wasn't alone in its assessment. Canalys, a separate research firm, also reported a 4.6 percent year-over-year decline in the smartphone market. "It is no shock to smartphone vendors that the market has passed its peak," said Ben Stanton, an analyst with Canalys. "People are clearly keeping phones for longer as product innovation slows."

The challenges facing the smartphone market are expected to continue into 2019. To generate sales, vendors will have to come up with more attractive products that better balance new smartphone features with compelling design and affordability, IDC said.

"The arrival of both 5G and foldable devices later this year could bring new life to the industry depending on how vendors and carriers market the real-life benefits of these technologies," according to IDC analyst Anthony Scarsella.

"However, we expect these new devices to elevate average selling prices as new displays, chipsets, and radios will bring an increased price," he added.

In 2018, Samsung remained the leading smartphone vendor; Apple came in second place and Huawei was a close third.

Huawei's smartphone shipments experienced the most year-over-year growth among the top five vendors, Canalys said, due to big gains in China and foreign markets. "However, moving into 2019, it now faces a critical challenge, as political tensions, security concerns, and disputes over intellectual property theft threaten to disrupts its remarkable momentum," the research firm said.

---

Featured Video For You

---

ASMR Unboxing the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 slider phone

---

Topics iPhone

• Science
• Digital Culture
• Games
• Entertainment
• Tech
• Shopping
• Social Good
• Deals

• Shop Owala's Memorial Day Sale for 30% off tumblers
• Wisconsin becomes the latest state to float 'Blue Lives Matter' bill
• dELiA*s may be a thing of the past, but its aesthetic is stronger than ever
• Aretha Franklin funeral: Bishop sorry for the way he held Ariana Grande
• Gods of War
• Why you should be picky when choosing a fertility app
• Fame: 'Bowie' the koala attracts fans with rare blue and brown eyes
• 'Adventure Time' review: The series finale 'Come Along with Me'
• 5 Ways to Access a Locked Windows Account
• Pokémon Go: The newest dating app to make you a good catch

• Tesla Model 3 crashes into parked truck and catches fire
• Democrats vow to skip inauguration on Twitter after latest Trump attack
• Sad remains of Iceland's first dead glacier seen in satellite images
• July was the hottest month in 140 years of record
• Facebook reminds private groups: We're watching
• Twitter tests filter to bury unwanted DMs even further
• 6 'Pokémon Go' players explain how the game has changed their lives
• Snap goes 3D with Spectacles 3, coming this fall
• China claimed its troops can reach New Delhi in 48 hours and everyone cracked the same joke
• Best VPNs for watching Netflix: NordVPN, ExpressVPN and more

• Best Garmin deal: Save over $100 on Garmin Forerunner 955
• Mercedes tries to catch up to Tesla with its all
• These are the things you're doing that cause hair loss
• The best tech of IFA 2018
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K deal: Get 40% off
• Andy Murray wins Wimbledon, has the best ice bath ever
• Nintendo just grew by $7.5 billion thanks to 'Pokémon Go'
• American and Canadian firefighters share a nice moment while fighting wildfire at the border
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for April 17, 2025
• Massive meteorite survives ruinous fire at Brazil's National Museum

• Best grocery deal: Spend $20 and get $5 off at Amazon
• 'Doom' player finds a secret that's been hidden for 24 years
• These guys snuck a fake poster of themselves into McDonald's to make an important point
• These are the things you're doing that cause hair loss
• Outdoor speaker deal: Save $20 on the Soundcore Boom 2
• Ashley Madison tries to win back users with first
• NASA holds out hope that the Opportunity rover will phone home
• Pokémon Go players are turning up in droves at a sex shop
• Testing Windows 10 Performance Before and After the Meltdown Flaw Emergency Patch
• Airbnb looks to attract business travelers with the help of American Express