Smartphone shipments plummet to 14-year low and it's not just about the RAM crisis — buyers are also ‘holding on to their devices longer than estimated’, report claims

• Counterpoint Research reports a 20% decline in smartphone shipments compared to this time last year
• That puts this period at the lowest level in 14 years
• The RAM crisis is largely to blame, but consumers may also be holding on to their phones for other reasons

This year seemingly hasn’t been a vintage one for phone companies. According to Counterpoint Research, global shipments are 20% lower this quarter than in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, making this the lowest Q3 in 14 years.

You can probably guess the main reason for that, as the ongoing RAM crisis is both pushing up prices and leading to component shortages. That means disrupted shipments for phone manufacturers — causing some models to be in shorter supply — and higher prices for consumers, which can make the prospect of an upgrade less appealing or affordable.

Still, this 14-year low might not be...

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