Fall of 2.1% in global smartphone shipments puts pressure on specialty retail

Global smartphone shipments are expected to fall 2.1% in 2026, pushed by the rise in the cost of memory and semiconductors, according to Counterpoint Research Phone Market, network of specialized stores, the scenario highlights the need to rely less and less on sales volume and more on efficient management, after-sales, customer relationships and use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to maintain competitiveness.

Despite the decrease in volume, the market continues to register a high in the value of devices. Popal data indicate that the average price of selling smartphones should rise to US$ 465 in 2026, compared to US$ 457 in 2025, putting the sector at a record value of US$ 578.9 billion. This price increase reinforces the importance of technological solutions: companies such as Meta, Microsoft and Google expand investments in data centers to support the growing demand for AI, with a global projection of nearly US$ 7 trillion in infrastructure by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.

For Maycon Richart da Costa, founder and CEO of the Phone Market, “, the combination of market shrinkage and technological advancement requires transformation in specialized retail operations.Consumer keeps their devices longer, reducing dependence on new sales. Stores that use efficient management, automation and AI can anticipate demands and maintain growth even in a challenging scenario”, he analyzes.

“Investing in management and automation technologies is essential to face this” moment, he adds Maycon Richart's. “Systems that monitor inventory, analyze customer behavior, and optimize internal processes allow stores to operate more efficiently.In addition, loyalty programs and after-sales-focused strategies help reduce reliance on new sales and strengthen customer relationships, increasing the life cycle value of each consumer”

According to Maycon, These initiatives turn challenges into concrete opportunities. Even in the face of the shrinkage in shipments, specialty stores can combine efficient management, automation, data analysis and loyalty strategies to optimize operations, reduce waste and create new sources of revenue, showing that technological adaptation and customer focus not only mitigate market impacts, but also generate long-term competitive advantage.

Faced with these challenges, the sustainability of specialized retail depends on the ability to integrate technology, automation and loyalty strategies to generate real value to customers.“Who can unite efficient management, artificial intelligence and focus on the relationship transforms the market shrinkage into growth opportunities, strengthening the connection with consumers and ensuring consistent results in the long term”, concludes the expert.