Research firm Counterpoint on Wednesday cut its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 1.9% from 4.2% previously, citing uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a raft of tariffs on April 2, prompting companies such as Apple to adjust their supply chains. However, the U.S. suspended tariffs on smartphones and other electronic devices as part of a broader 90-day tariff suspension.
The downgrade means manufacturers are already facing challenges with weak sales amid rising geopolitical tensions and escalating tariff disputes.
The research firm also lowered its year-on-year growth forecast for China shipments to nearly flat, while shipments for Apple and Samsung are expected to slow as cost increases are passed on to consumers.
Apple sells more than 220 million iPhones worldwide each year, and currently one-fifth of total iPhone imports to the U.S. come from India, with the rest from China.
Last month, IDC cut its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 0.6% from 2.3%, citing economic uncertainty caused by tariffs and a pullback in consumer spending.
