Counterpoint Research, a market analysis agency, has just downgraded its estimates for the volume of smartphone sales in 2021. While it had initially forecast 1.45 billion units sold, the new forecast stands for 1.41 billion smartphones and mobile devices for this year.
The fault lies in the current shortage of chips and semiconductors that is expected to continue to affect the smartphone industry. The problem began to be felt in the last quarter of 2020 and, since then, it would get worse. There is, however, a positive note for Apple, one of the few techs that has managed to dodge this problem.
Chip shortage will continue to worsen in 2021
Counterpoint’s report predicted annual market growth mobile by 9%, now reaching the expected 6% growth in light of the worsening of this crisis.
As manufacturers deplete their reserves of chips, the production chain will be affected, causing more delays and delays in the arrival of products in stores.
To make matters worse, the main manufacturers are only receiving 80% of the volume ordered in recent quarters. In fact, a good part of the manufacturers point out that only 70% of their orders are delivered and this figure continues to decline.
Therefore, there is not enough production capacity for the volume of semiconductors required.
Counterpoint estimates that 90% of the smartphone market is affected
According to the Counterpoint Research report up to 90% of the smartphone industry has been affected by the issue. Currently, even components that were abundant until then, such as the display control module, the Display Driver IC (DDI) and energy management modules are also starting to become rare. To these are added several other control chips for the most varied functions.
On the other hand, some manufacturers like Apple have escaped relatively unscathed thanks to good planning and the purchase of massive quantities of components. Only in this way, points out Counterpoint, it was possible for them to continue shipping the intended volumes of mobile devices in recent months.
Particularly in the case of the iPhone 13, which now uses the A15 Bionic chip, Apple has managed to find a way to continue to have the necessary amounts of components. Exactly how he did it was not worked out by Counterpoint.
On the other hand, manufacturers such as Samsung, OPPO and Xiaomi are among the most affected. Indeed, for these brands Counterpoint Research, by the hand of research director Tom Kang, predicts an aggravation of the shortage by the end of this year.
Finally, although Apple is one of the few manufacturers that have managed to circumvent this problem, some of their products have been affected. In particular, Counterpoint reports that both the iPad and iMac have seen their production lines affected this year.
The only hope remains that the new semiconductor factories and production units currently under construction can at least alleviate this problem by 2022. In any case, it is increasingly likely that the next generation of smartphones will face increasing delays in reaching the Marketplace.
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