Global smartphone shipments in second quarter hit lowest in 13 years on memory chip crunch

July 13 : Global smartphone shipments fell 11 per cent in the second quarter to their lowest level for the period since 2013, as a prolonged memory chip shortage drove up handset prices and dampened demand, according to early estimates from Counterpoint Research. Apple bucked the trend with a 3 per cent rise in shipments, taking its global market share to a record 20 per cent in the quarter on resilient demand for its premium iPhone lineup and keeping prices unchanged. However, analysts expect price increases in the coming months. Here are more details: • Memory prices extended their climb as suppliers prioritized AI data center customers over consumer electronics, forcing manufacturers to pass higher component costs on to consumers through price hikes, particularly for entry- and mid-rang