TrendForce’s latest research finds that 3Q24 coincided with the peak season for smartphone sales. The launch of flagship models by major brands propelled global smartphone production to a QoQ increase of 7%, reaching approximately 310 million units and matching figures from the same period last year. However, production volumes for the quarter have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, signaling a continued lack of clear recovery momentum in the global consumer market.
TrendForce reports that the global notebook market in 2024 is projected to recover at a moderate pace, hindered by high interest rates and geopolitical uncertainties. Annual shipments are forecast to reach 174 million units, marking a 3.9% YoY increase. Looking ahead to 2025, reduced political uncertainty following the U.S. presidential election and the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts in September 2024 are expected to stimulate capital flow. Combined with the end-of-service for Windows 10 and demand for commercial device upgrades, global notebook shipments are predicted to grow by 4.9% to 183 million units in 2025.
TrendForce has outlined 10 key trends shaping the technology landscape in 2025. Highlights include:
Global TV brand shipments reached 52.33 million units in 3Q24, reflecting a QoQ increase of 9.6% and a YoY growth of 0.5%. This surge was fueled by China’s end-of-July announcement of subsidies for first- and second-tier energy-efficient household appliances that offered 15%–20% discounts on retail prices through trade-in programs. Local TV brands ramped up production of models meeting subsidy requirements starting in August and helped aggressive promotions during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Golden Week. As a result, Q3 shipments exceeded initial projections by 1%.
TrendForce reports that Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 series will be powered by the new A18 and A18 Pro processors and will feature a comprehensive DRAM upgrade to support Apple Intelligence. The excitement around Apple Intelligence has been building since WWDC24, and with a relatively low base in 2023, Apple’s four new models are expected to have a combined production volume of 86.7 million units in the second half of 2024, marking an 8% year-on-year increase. Looking at total production for 2024, Apple is currently close to Samsung, the market leader, and could potentially surpass Samsung by the end of the year to become the top smartphone manufacturer by market share for the first time.