On March 13, Citi analysts predicted in a research report that global smartphone shipments could drop by 17% in 2026. Due to weakening demand caused by rising memory chip prices, Citi has revised its smartphone shipment forecasts for 2026 and 2027 down to 1.04 billion and 1.17 billion units, respectively. Citi stated that smartphone manufacturers may pass on some of the costs to customers, with some manufacturers potentially facing memory shortages. Apple and Samsung are expected to maintain stable shipment volumes, while Xiaomi's shipments may decline by 13%, and other low-end Android smartphone brands could also see a drop in shipments.
