Goldman Sachs Lowers Global Smartphone Shipment Forecast for 2026 and 2027 Due to High Memory Chip P

On June 20, Goldman Sachs revised its global smartphone shipment forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing the continued rise in memory chip prices as a drag on market demand. The bank expects the product mix to continue shifting towards high-end models. Goldman Sachs lowered its forecasts for global smartphone shipments in 2026 and 2027 by 4% and 3%, respectively, to 1.14 billion and 1.17 billion units, indicating a 10% decline in shipments this year, with a 3% recovery expected in 2027. Additionally, Goldman Sachs introduced its first shipment forecast for 2028 at 1.18 billion units, representing a 1% year-on-year increase. The bank predicts that the market size will grow by 3% to $596 billion in 2026, with further increases of 2% in 2027 and 2028, reaching $606 billion and $621 billion, respectively. It noted that rising memory costs and the increasing share of high-end models priced over $600 will support overall market revenue growth despite the decline in shipments.