What you need to know
- A new report by IDC predicts iPhone sales to drop 15% in 2019
- The decrease is due to "market maturity" and lack of 5G devices
- Shipments are expected to grow again in 2020 from the introduction of 5G iPhones
Analytics firm International Data Corporation, or IDC, is out with a new report detailing their lookout for the smartphone industry fot the rest of 2019 and into the beginning of 2020. Reported by 9to5Mac, they predict that iPhone shipments will continue to drop through the rest of 2019 in comparison to last year, due to market saturation, lack of 5G, and the fact that consumers continue to delay upgrading their phones for longer.
2019 will remain a challenging year for iPhone shipments with volumes expected to drop to 177.9 million, down 14.8% year over year, mostly due to market maturity as well as a lack of 5G devices. However, Apple is likely to deliver 5G handsets later in 2020, which will pick up iOS volumes slightly as it will have an edge over other vendors with a better understanding of 5G market conditions for a much more planned launch.
That decline should see a turnaround in 2020, according to the firm. Apple is expected to include 5G in next years' iPhones, and the expansion of the technology paired with its availability in new models should cause sales volume increase for a longly stale market. While they do not believe that 5G alone will cause some kind of revolutionary skyrocket in sales for the smartphone industry, they do recognize it as a major step in mobile innovation that could spark a new era of growth for Apple and its competitors.
IDC expects 5G shipments to reach 8.9% of smartphones shipped in 2020, accounting for 123.5 million devices shipped. This is expected to grow to 28.1% of worldwide smartphone shipments by 2023.
In the meantime, Apple's Special Event kicks off on Tuesday, September 10th at 10:00 AM PDT, where we are expecting to see new iPhones, new Apple Watches, and more. If you'd like to read the report for yourself, you can do so at IDC's website.

Apple has just discontinued nearly every iMac Pro
Apple has tweaked the iMac Pro listing on its website to state that it is for sale "While supplies last", with only one configuration available. Apple is rumored to be releasing a new mini-LED iMac Pro this year.

Review: Bravely Default 2 sticks to the franchise's classic JRPG formula
Bravely Default 2 brings the JRPG series to the Switch but offers familiar story beats and mechanics for fans of the old school JRPG series. If you're up for a challenge and don't mind the grind, it will deliver plenty of charm and room for experimentation.

Review: Carry all essentials and more with Monos Metro Backpack
It doesn't matter if you're skipping town or packing for your morning commute, the Monos Metro Backpack enables you to carry all of your essentials and more.

Take-offs and landings are smooth business with one of these landing pads
A drone landing pad gives your craft a smooth, solid surface to make gimbal calibrations before take-offs. It also makes returning to home effortless. These are the best drone landing pads available this year.