Citigroup: Global smartphone shipments may decline by 17% in 2026.

Citigroup analysts stated in a research report that global smartphone shipments may drop by 17% in 2026. They pointed out that rising memory chip prices have led to weak demand, so Citigroup has reduced its estimates for smartphone shipments in 2026 and 2027 to 1.04 billion units and 1.17 billion units respectively. Citigroup said that smartphone manufacturers will pass on some of the cost pressure to customers, and some manufacturers may face memory shortages. Citigroup predicts that shipments of Apple and Samsung will remain resilient, while Xiaomi's shipments may decline by 13%. They also added that shipments of other Android brands may also decline, particularly in the low-end smartphone market.