Global smartphone replacement rate reached its peak in 2013 with 42%, when operator subsidies also reached a record high level. However, replacement rate has been experiencing the downward trend from 2014 onwards, coupled with de-subsidy shift in selected markets, smartphone booming in emerging markets, as well as the increased low-income prepaid smartphone users in emerging markets.

COVID-19 hit the global smartphone market and further shortened global smartphone replacement rate to a record low 28% in 2020.

However, we expect global smartphone replacement rate to start to slowly rebound from 2021 onwards, mainly triggered by economy recovery and 5G migration. We forecast global smartphone replacement rate will improve to 33% by 2026.

WSS clients can find the Global Smartphone Replacement Rate / Cycle Forecast by 88 Countries : 2008-2026 in the full report here.