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Telecommunications: Smartphone Shipments Fall 20%, Creating Tension Between Refurbished Demand and Trade-In Supply — Global Outlook

Global smartphone shipments fell 20% in the third quarter of 2026 as rising memory costs pressured manufacturers and consumers delayed upgrades. The analysis examines the implications for refurbished-device demand, trade-in supply, secondary-market pricing and the availability of retired mobile equipment for ITAD providers and electronics recyclers. Continue reading below.
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Global smartphone shipments fell 20% year over year during the third quarter of 2026, according to preliminary figures from Omdia released October 15. Rising memory and storage costs have constrained manufacturers’ pricing options and contributed to a pullback in lower-margin models. Counterpoint Research independently reported a similar decline, identifying the lowest third-quarter shipment level since 2012. Its senior analyst Shilpi Jain said consumers are keeping their phones longer than the firm had estimated, increasingly considering refurbished alternatives and prioritizing higher-value devices.

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Author: David Daoud | Principal Analyst

David Daoud has researched the mainstream IT hardware market since 1996 and expanded into hardware disposition research in 2003. He has spearheaded the creation of IDC’s GRADE certification. Since then, David has been providing consulting and expert advice to companies looking to establish best practice in their IT equipment decommissioning and helped leading ITAD service providers assess demand, understand competition, and forecast what’s to come. David is currently the Principal Analyst at Compliance Standards, which focuses entirely on the end-of-life of IT equipment. He can be reached at 754-229-0095 or at ddaoud@compliance-standards.com
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