Overview

• Global mobile phone shipments reached 514 million units globally in Q4 2018 with a YoY decline of 8%.
• Global smartphone shipments reached 395 million units in Q4 2018 with 7% annual decline.
• The global smartphone market declined for the first time ever, for a full year, as consumers held onto their devices longer, especially higher-end phones. Many did not see a need to upgrade as the available phones were too expensive without offering any groundbreaking innovation that would move them to upgrade their older device.
• Overall LTE shipments decline for the first time ever. Reliance Jiophone grew 12% in Q4 2018, the follow-up Jio Phone 2 also was launched during the fourth quarter.
• LTE is the number one cellular access technology driven by entry to mid-level smartphones in emerging markets.
• LTE has now replaced 3G smartphones even in sub $50 segment. 3G (WCDMA) shipments continue to decline and registered a 32% decline in the quarter.
• Almost 95% of the smartphones shipped globally now are LTE capable. With LTE now being a default technology in entry-level smartphones, we have witnessed the growth of VoLTE phones in sub $100 segment as operators are now offering VoLTE services in the emerging markets.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Pivot Chart 
Global
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
Korea
Key Asian Countries
North America
US
Canada
Europe
Western Europe
Central & Eastern Europe
Key European Countries
Central & Latin America
Key Central & Latin America Countries
Middle East & Africa
Key Middle East & Africa Countries
Flatfile
Definitions
Contacts

Author: Shobhit Srivastava 
Date Published: February 2019