5G, foldable devices to stabilize Saudi smartphone market in 2019: IDC

The expected launch of 5G services coupled with the arrival of the latest foldable smartphones could stabilize smartphone market in Saudi Arabia this year, noted the latest Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report by IDC on Tuesday.

While IDC does not expect the Saudi smartphone space to see any major growth in 2019, it is expecting the road to recovery to begin this year, with forecasts showing a flat or very slight decline in the market, the report added.

Also read: Saudi smartphone market to 'stabilize' after 2018 shipments decline: IDC

"The arrival of 5G and foldable devices this year may bring some movement to the market as they will finally feed the intense craving from consumers for some genuine innovation," says Nabila Popal, senior research manager for mobile phones at IDC.

"However, given the high price tags likely to come with these devices, they will take time to gain traction. So, while they will undoubtedly generate some long overdue excitement, I wouldn't expect them to bring double-digit growth to the struggling smartphone market," she added.

Saudi Arabia's smartphone market experienced a 15.3 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline in shipments in 2018, IDC report added.

The Saudi market's performance was broadly in line with the overall trend of the wider GCC region, where smartphone shipments were down 12.2 percent year on year in 2018.

With Saudi Arabia being biggest market in GCC, accounting for 47% of all smartphone shipments to the region last year, any declines felt in this market are bound to affect the region's overall performance, IDC added.