Smartphone sales have been steadily declining for a long time. And noticeably. In the fourth quarter of 2022, manufacturers sold 296.9 million smartphones, i.e. 18 percent more than in the previous year. less than in the previous three months – according to statistics. This is the fourth consecutive quarter of decline. What’s more, in the whole of 2022, 1.2 billion copies were sold, i.e. 12 percent more than in the previous year. less than in 2021.
Young people are giving up smartphones in favor of “old” phones
Perhaps the downward trend is not accidental at all, and young people are responsible for the weaker sales of smartphones. As CNBC writes, in the US companies such as HMD Global (responsible for the Nokia brand) continue to sell millions of traditional mobile phones. Of course, it is about modern versions of mobile phones that not only allow you to talk and write text messages. Often, such phones support the 4G network, have GPS navigation, enable hotspot and use instant messengers.
According to the people quoted by the American broadcaster, the trend of replacing smartphones with modern mobile phones (so-called feature phones – basic phone) is visible primarily among people belonging to the Z generation, i.e. born – depending on the definition – after 1995 or 1996 . These people are to give up smartphones due to fatigue with ubiquitous messages and large screens. As the moderator of one of the Reddit groups of feature phone fans writes, young people “do not know what is happening to their mental health and are trying to make a change.”
CNBC adds that according to Counterpoint Research data, in 2022 almost 80 percent. of all conventional cells were sold in Middle East, Africa and India. This, of course, has to do with their low price. But in the US – due to concerns about their health – this market is also growing and North America’s share of them should jump to 5 percent. in the next five years. The fact that phones with small screens and physical buttons are back in favor is also evidenced by the considerable increase in interest in this type of equipment of influencers overseas, which of course may translate into an increase in mobile sales.
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
