The world will buy more smartphones in 2020 thanks to 5G

Research firm IDC says Chinese consumers will drive global growth in handset shipments, but the 5G iPhone won’t come until late next year

For the past three years, fewer and fewer people have been buying new smartphones. But that's about to change next year with the arrival of 5G, according to research firm IDC.

Phone makers around the world are expected to ship 1.5% more smartphones in 2020 than this year, analysts said. About 14% of those phones will be 5G-compatible.

China launched its 5G network last month, and all major Chinese manufacturers have already introduced 5G handsets. The country is expected to buy the most 5G phones next year, but substantial demand will also come from consumers in North America, the UK and South Korea, said Ryan Reith, program vice president for IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. He expects the prices of 5G phones to fall quickly.

Apple isn't expected to release a 5G iPhone until late next year. But IDC says the new device will have an edge over competitors because by the time it's released, Apple should have a better understanding of the technology.

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