Image used with permission by copyright holderBy 2017, smartphone market size will be directly correlated with population size — at least when it comes to the top three players in the game. According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, India will unseat the United States as the second largest smartphone market within the next two years, with China remaining the clear leader of the pack. While smartphone penetration in India is currently relatively low, with only 110 to 120 million of the 1.2 billion people in the country able to claim ownership of such a device, forecasters say this will change very quickly in the coming years.
“No serious global hardware or software player can afford to ignore the huge Indian smartphone market today.”
Recommended Videos
As per the report, in 2015, Indians will buy 118 million smartphones, and by 2017, 174 million phones will be sold over the course of the year. Experts attribute this rise in smartphone popularity with the advent of local Indian smartphone companies like Micromax, which have created affordable mobile devices that have all the bells and whistles of their more expensive, foreign counterparts, but a much less intimidating and more attractive price tag.
The growth in smartphone popularity in India reflects the overall digitization of the country. Last year, India boasted the third-largest number of Internet-equipped inhabitants, with 243 million people online, whereas the U.S. had 279.8 million. Forecasters also predict that this will soon shift, as the U.S. figure reflects 86 percent penetration, and India’s number is a measly 19 percent of its population.
Global smartphone usage is also on the rise, with Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, noting in the press release, “We forecast global smartphone sales will grow from 1.5 billion units in 2015 to a record 1.7 billion in 2017. China, India, and United States are the big three countries driving smartphone growth worldwide today and in the future.” It is unclear as of yet if India will eventually overtake the “maturing” Chinese tech market.
Strategy Analytics Director Linda Sui noted, “China has been the engine of global smartphone growth in recent years, but China is now maturing and slowing. India is fast becoming the next major growth wave … India’s growth is being driven by low smartphone penetration, expanding retail availability of devices, wealthier middle-class consumers, and aggressive promotions from local smartphone brands.”
Regardless, one thing is clear. As Woody Oh, Director at Strategy Analytics said, “No serious global hardware or software player can afford to ignore the huge Indian smartphone market today.”
One of the biggest Oura Ring competitors just did something huge
Ultrahuman, the maker of the Ultrahuman Ring Air, is making its way to U.S. production grounds. The company is setting up a production facility in Indiana, which will mark the first time a smart ring from Ultrahuman will be assembled from scratch on U.S. soil.
“The UltraFactory will offer an end-to-end production capability and is based on the company’s first operational model of such a facility in India,” the company says.
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.
AirTags range: here’s how far the tracker can reach
Apple AirTags are a helpful tool for tracking valuable possessions like wallets, keys, luggage, and backpacks. These tags employ various technologies that allow you to track your items from short and long distances using your compatible Apple device, such as an iPhone 15 Plus. You might wonder how far you can track your items with AirTags. It's time to find out.
AirTags range, explained
The range of AirTags varies depending on the method you use to locate them. A Bluetooth connection will work when your AirTags are close to your supported Apple device. Otherwise, Apple's Find My network is utilized. Luckily, you don't have to choose the method because it's selected behind the scenes automatically.
