As strong overseas sales boosted certain Chinese smartphone brands in the fourth quarter of 2024, DIGITIMES has revised its global shipment forecast for smartphone application processors (APs) in that period to approximately 180 million units, reflecting a 5.5% sequential decline – an improvement from the previously expected 7.7% drop.
In the first quarter of 2025, Chinese smartphone AP shipments are expected to remain stable despite the traditional off-season, supported by China's mobile phone subsidy policy. Mid-to-high-end 5G models will likely be more appealing to consumers within the subsidy-eligible price range.
Additionally, with the 618 Shopping Festival approaching in the second quarter of 2025, smartphone manufacturers are stockpiling components in advance, helping sustain AP demand. DIGITIMES estimates that first-quarter 2025 AP shipments will be unchanged from the previous quarter, with a 0.6% quarter-on-quarter increase and 7.2% year-on-year growth.
Chart 1: Key factors affecting China smartphone AP shipments in 1Q25: Demand/Supply
Chart 2: Key factors affecting China smartphone AP shipments in 1Q25: Suppliers
Chart 12: MediaTek smartphone AP shipments, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 13: MediaTek shipments by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 14: MediaTek shipment share by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 15: MediaTek shipments by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 16: MediaTek shipment share by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 17: MediaTek shipment share by product line, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 18: Qualcomm smartphone AP shipments, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 19: Qualcomm shipments by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 20: Qualcomm shipment share by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 21: Qualcomm shipments by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 22: Qualcomm shipment share by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 23: Qualcomm shipments by product line, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 24: Qualcomm shipment share by product line, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 25: Unisoc smartphone AP shipments, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 26: Unisoc shipments by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 28: Unisoc shipments by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 30: Hisilicon smartphone AP shipments, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 31: Hisilicon shipments by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 32: Hisilicon shipment share by baseband type, 4Q23-1Q25
Chart 33: Hisilicon shipments by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25 (m units)
Chart 34: Hisilicon shipment share by architecture, 4Q23-1Q25
