According to a new report, Android smartphones are set to grow 40% faster than iOS this year, with a 2.5% year-on-year growth. The International Data Corporation (IDC) ‘Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker’ forecasts a 2.3% increase in smartphone shipments globally in 2025, reaching 1.26 billion units.
This growth represents the second successive year of improvement, following a 6.1% growth in 2024.
In China, iOS is expected to decline by 1.9% this year due to ongoing challenges. However, on a global scale, iOS is forecasted to increase by 1.8%, driven by strong growth in the U.S. and rapid growth in emerging markets like India and Indonesia. Nabila Popal, senior research director at IDC, highlighted the impact of the ongoing rollout of Apple Intelligence and the recently launched mid-priced iPhone 16E in maintaining elevated average selling prices (ASPs) for Apple, which is expected to capture 45% value share in 2025 despite only representing 19% of shipments.
In the U.S., the smartphone market is projected to grow by 3.3% in 2025, even with the new 10% tariffs imposed on goods from China, including smartphones. Anthony Scarsella, research director at IDC, explained that an aging installed base ready for renewal will positively impact shipments for the year. Although the new tariffs may slightly increase ASPs, most U.S. consumers purchase smartphones through installment plans combined with trade-ins via the telecom channel, minimizing the impact on purchase decisions.
Globally, smartphone ASPs are forecasted to grow slightly to $434 in 2025 despite the boost of low-end Android devices this year, as premiumization on the high end continues.
