Global shipments of devices, including smartphones, personal computers and tablets, are forecast to drop 13.6 per cent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by Gartner.
Overall, about 1.9 billion devices will be sold this year, almost 300 million less than last year, the US consultancy said. The smartphone industry will be the worst affected, with shipments declining 13.7 per cent year-on-year to 1.3 billion units in 2020.
While people have increased their use of smartphones to communicate with colleagues, work partners, friends and families during coronavirus-related lockdowns, “reduced disposable income will result in fewer consumers upgrading their phones”, said Ranjit Atwal, senior research director at Gartner.
As a result, the average lifespan of a phone is set to extend to 2.7 years in 2020, up from 2.5 years in 2018, according to Gartner.
Industry experts said the wider availability of affordable 5G phones was meant to cut the replacement period, but this is no longer the case.
“The delayed delivery of some 5G flagship phones is an ongoing issue,” said Annette Zimmermann, research vice-president at Gartner.
“Moreover, the lack of geographical coverage along with the increasing cost of the 5G phone contract will impact the choice of a 5G phone,” she added.
5G-enabled phones are forecast to represent only 11 per cent of total mobile phone shipments this year.
Gartner said spending on 5G phones will be affected in most regions apart from China, where continued investment in 5G infrastructure is providing manufacturers with a more effective sales pitch.
Samsung, Huawei, LG and OnePlus are among the manufacturers that have already achieved some success through 5G phone sales.
Chinese manufacturer Huawei sold 6.9 million 5G phones last year, 200,000 more than South Korea's Samsung. Apple, a manufacturer of premium iPhones, is expected to introduce cheaper 5G phones in September to attract budget consumers.
The PC market is predicted to shrink 10.5 per cent this year, with 235 million units being sold. This is likely to decline further in the next few years as consumers switch to a preference for laptops and tablets, Gartner said.
The work-from-home trend combined with businesses needing to create more flexible business continuity plans will also lead to more laptops replacing desk-based PCs throughout 2021 and 2022, said Mr Atwal.
Gartner said 48 per cent of employees are likely to work remotely for at least for some of their time after the Covid-19 pandemic, compared to 30 per cent before the outbreak.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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