Smartphone Sales Growth Hit by Tariff ‘Whirlwind of Uncertainty’

Sales of Apple Inc.’s iPhone and its closest rivals are expected to take a significant blow from the Trump administration’s new tariff policy unveiled in April.

Two independent market research companies have slashed their forecasts for 2025 growth by more than half: IDC now expects just 0.6% growth in global smartphone shipments for the year, while Counterpoint Research sees a 1.9% increase. Both caution that potential price increases and broader macroeconomic uncertainty related to the tariffs will dampen enthusiasm for new purchases.