More doom and gloom for smartphone producers, as international smartphone shipments expertise the third consecutive decline this 12 months. Per numbers from Canalys, shipments dropped a lowly 9% final quarter, marking the worst Q3 for the class since 2014.

Apple is a uncommon brilliant spot among the many numbers, with some optimistic progress as the remainder of the highest 5 posted declining numbers from the identical time final 12 months. Samsung stays in first place, with 22% if the general market, whereas Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo spherical out the highest 5.

If you’ve adopted the class with any regularity, none of it will come as any shock, in fact. Following years of explosive progress, numbers plateaued and started dropping off, as a consequence of facets like pricing and market saturation. Things, naturally, have been solely accelerated by the pandemic, courtesy of lockdowns and financial struggles. Since then, provide chain shortages, inflation and the like have solely served to exacerbate the scenario.

Image Credits: Canalys

“The smartphone market is highly reactive to consumer demand and vendors are adjusting quickly to the harsh business conditions,” says Canalys Analyst Amber Liu. “For most vendors, the priority is to reduce the risk of inventory building up given deteriorating demand. Vendors had significant stockpiles going into July, but sell-through gradually improved from September owing to aggressive discounting and promotions.”

For now, a minimum of, the class exhibits no indicators of future enchancment.