GSMA: 50% of Chinese consumers hope to buy 5G mobile phones as soon as possible

Smartphones will remain the dominant consumer device for the next decade, according to new research from GSMA Intelligence, but the arrival of 5G does not guarantee a surge in device upgrades.

According to GSMA Intelligence's 2019 Consumer Survey, smartphone penetration among adults in most high- and middle-income countries is between 85% and 95%. However, in key markets such as the United States, Europe and Australia, only 30% to 40% of respondents believe that the arrival of 5G is likely to drive smartphone upgrades in the short term. In contrast, markets such as China and South Korea will be early adopters, with nearly 50% of Chinese consumers saying they will buy a 5G phone once it is available.

The situation for smart home and wearables is mixed, with fragmentation and lack of compatibility between manufacturers holding back adoption of smart home devices. However, this segment is being boosted by the growing popularity of smart speakers, such as Amazon’s Echo devices. These devices are increasingly acting as a single point of control in the home. Smart speakers were the fastest growing category in the 2019 survey, with 21% of households now owning one, up 10 percentage points from the year before. Smart speakers have become a key battleground in the broader development of artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, the penetration of fitness trackers and smartwatches also rebounded in 2019, reaching 21% and 10%, respectively.

199IT.com Originally compiled from: GSMA. Please do not reprint without authorization