According to a recent report by analyst firm Canalys, 2022 was one of the worst years for global smartphone shipments in nearly a decade, with global shipments dropping roughly 11%. The highest drop was recorded in the final quarter, with worldwide shipments falling 17% from the previous year. All in all, said Canalys, the total number of shipments for the entire year came in under 1.2 billion.
“Smartphone vendors have struggled in a difficult macroeconomic environment throughout 2022. Q4 marks the worst annual and Q4 performance in a decade,” provided Canalys Research Analyst Runar Bjørhovde. “The channel is highly cautious with taking on new inventory, contributing to low shipments in Q4.
