Global mobile phone shipments to decline by 14.6% due to Covid1-9: Gartner

Smartphone shipments will achieve a slightly slower decline of 13.7 per cent year over year to total 1.3 billion units this year

Mobile phone shipments will decline 14.6 per cent in 2020 as people spend less and use their gadgets for a longer time because of the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, said a Gartner report on Tuesday.

Smartphone shipments will decline of 13.7 per cent year over year, Gartner forecasted.

"While users have increased the use of their mobile phones to communicate with colleagues, work partners, friends and families during lockdowns, reduced disposable income will result in fewer consumers upgrading their phones," Ranjit Atwal, Senior Research Director at Gartner, said in a statement.

"As a result, phone lifetimes will extend