Appears like our curiosity about AI could also be boosting smartphone gross sales. Shipments of smartphones elevated 1% 12 months over 12 months within the second quarter of 2025, regardless of tariff volatility and worldwide financial instability, in line with new information launched from the Worldwide Knowledge Company.
A lot of the rise in gross sales is attributed to midrange gadgets like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and different smartphones which have began incorporating AI.
The report blamed a drop in demand for lower-end gadgets, together with these constructed across the Android OS, for weighing down the smartphone market. Nonetheless, gadgets that incorporate AI-enabled options have sparked a curiosity that is lured prospects again — for the correct worth.
“Samsung was capable of consolidate its market management and outperform the general market reaching robust progress within the quarter pushed by the gross sales of its new Galaxy A36 and A56 merchandise,” mentioned Francisco Jeronimo, vp for shopper gadgets at IDC. “These new merchandise introduce AI-enabled options to mid-range gadgets, which has been successfully utilized in retail shops to drive gross sales.”
Beginning at $400, the Galaxy A36 probably affords a extra inexpensive entry into AI for many people, together with AI-powered photograph modifying instruments and Google’s Circle to Search.
A latest CNET survey discovered that simply 11% of individuals improve their cellphone for AI options. However the survey additionally discovered that worth is the largest driver (62%), that means a midrange cellphone with new options might show to be alluring sufficient to make the leap.
