Phone users know when to hold ’em, delay upgrades amid inflation
Smartphone replacement cycles are lengthening as consumers delay upgrades due to inflation and rising device costs, with phones now kept for an average of 4.2 years. Despite a slight increase in global shipments in the first quarter of 2026, demand is expected to decline due to economic pressures and component shortages. Analysts warn of a growing gap between phone shipments to retailers and actual consumer sales, which may lead to market corrections later in the year.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Personal Tech Phone users know when to hold ’em, delay upgrades amid inflation Analyst says handsets now stay in pockets for 4.2 years on average Dan Robinson Thu 30 Apr 2026 // 18:54 UTC Remember the early days of the smartphone revolution when, even after six months, your phone felt outdated? Not anymore. Smartphone replacement cycles are getting longer as discretionary household budgets come under pressure from inflation, with demand for new devices expected to fall for the rest of this year. Phone makers were already feeling the effects of the AI-driven memory shortage, which has pushed up the cost of the DRAM and NAND flash chips inside every device, making handsets more expensive to build.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Register.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Register
