Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Smartphones
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Smartphones Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Smartphones are mobile phones that operate on cellular networks and have large screens, built-in applications, and internet access. Smartphones are equipped with operating systems and increased processing power, allowing them to perform many of the functions of a computer. Major buyers include wireless carriers, corporations, and government agencies.
This Report Includes:
- Apple Smartphones
- Android Smartphones
- Other Smartphone Brands
Not in this Report:
- Other Mobile Phones
- Tablets
- Laptop Computers
Global Smartphones Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Smartphones market.
Warning Trends
Tariffs to escalate prices for electronics and computing equipment
- The Trump administration’s reciprocating tariffs, which will increase the tariff on all products imported from nearly all US trade partners, are set to take effect on August 7 and are likely to drive price increases across a wide range of sectors.
- The United States is highly reliant on imported electronics, communication equipment, and computing devices, having imported more than $472 billion worth of electronics in 2024, or about half of the total domestic supply. Starting August 7, imports from key computer and electronics producers such as China (54,0%), Japan (15.0%), South Korea (15.0%), Thailand (19.0%), Vietnam (20.0%), and Taiwan (20.0%) will be subject to new tariff rates. Trade deals for many countries are still being negotiated, and these rates are subject to change.
- For this reason, the US electronics industry is highly exposed to price increases and supply chain disruptions when the tariffs take effect. For example, the cost of iPhones, which are predominantly manufactured in China, could rise by as much as 43.0% in response to tariffs, according to projections by Rosenblatt Securities.
- Overall, the Yale Budget Lab anticipates tariffs will increase the average cost of computers and electronics by 18.7% in the short term.
- The tariffs exempt semiconductors, limiting the cost increases for domestic electronics manufacturers, but the lack of domestic electronics assembly capacity means that this exemption will have a limited effect.
China bans exports of rare minerals to the United States
- On December 4, China announced a ban on all exports of gallium, germanium, graphite, and antimony to the United States, escalating existing trade restrictions on these materials.
- China is the leading global producer of each of these metals, producing 98.3%, 67.9%, 62.0%, and 48.2%, respectively, of the world’s gallium, germanium, graphite, and antimony supplies, respectively.
- The United States can still access these resources from other trade partners who make up most of the remaining global supply of the impacted commodities, such as Canada, Japan, and Brazil.
- However, the loss of supply from China, the leading producer of these materials, will increase prices and supply chain risk in a range of markets that rely on the affected metals, such as the semiconductor, batteries, and solar cell markets.
- China’s export ban on these materials is in retaliation to expanded US export bans on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and technologies to China announced two days prior. This ongoing trade dispute adds further uncertainty to technology markets, which are often reliant on components and materials exported from China.
Positive Trends
The DOJ proposes Google breakup in latest tech antitrust action
- In August, Google was found guilty of operating as a monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive practices through the operation of its search engine business.
- In response to this ruling the Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated it will seek a breakup of Google’s business segments, among other similarly harsh penalties. While the actual penalty Google receives must be approved by the judge, the DOJ’s proposed penalties signal a zero-tolerance policy toward tech monopolies.
- During the last few years, the Federal government has significantly increased its enforcement actions against major technology companies in an effort to contest the high level of market share concentration in this sector.
- These actions include high-profile anti-trust lawsuits against Amazon, Apple, and Meta, in addition to the case against Google. Consequently, the results of these lawsuits could significantly affect the structure of a wide range of tech markets.
Global Smartphones Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 265 |
| #2 China | 195 |
| #3 Europe | 175 |
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2
Geography Drilldown - US
Average Cost of Smartphones
United States
2026 Market Pricing$150.00 to $X,XXX.XX
per deviceAverage Price
Prices in the Smartphones market range from $150.00 to $X,XXX.XX, depending on Storage Capacity, Brand, Model and Other Features. For example, lower prices are associated with Less than 128 GB of storage ($99.00 to $400 per device) and 128GB of storage ($125 to $1,000 per device), whereas higher prices are associated with 256GB of storage ($140 to $1,100 per device), 512GB of storage ($400 to $1,300 per device) and More than 512GB of storage ($1,300 to $2,000 per device).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Smartphones Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Smartphones market, prices in the US have grown 2.3% from 2022 to 2025. Subscribers can access price trend forecasts, price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data. Learn more
United States (2022-2025)
United States (2025-2028)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Smartphones
Total cost of ownership is Medium in the Smartphones market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Delays may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Transportation
Billed During
License fees
Unforeseen
Delays
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -1.9 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Market Share Concentration. It is most negatively impacted by Product Specialization. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as High, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Semiconductor & Circuit Manufacturers
- Circuit Board & Electronic Component Manufacturers
- Electronic Part & Equipment Wholesalers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Aluminum Manufacturers
- Chemical Product Manufacturers
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturers
Biggest Smartphones Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Smartphones vendors by revenue in the US are Nokia Corp., Deutsche Telekom Ag and At&T Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Global | Suwon-si, KR | >10,001 | 20-25 | ||||
| Apple Inc. | Global | CUPERTINO | >10,000 | 25+ | ||||
| LG Electronics Inc. | Global | Seoul, KOR | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Sony Corporation | Global | Tokyo, USA | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Alphabet Inc. | Global | MOUNTAIN VIEW | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Microsoft Corporation | Global | Redmond | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Verizon Communications Inc. | Global | NEW YORK, NY | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| At&T Inc. | Global | DALLAS, TX | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Deutsche Telekom Ag | Global | Bonn, DE | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
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Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Smartphones market is 13.0% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Purchases. The cost trend for this component is stagnating, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Low vendor risk boosts buyer power as it is unlikely that any vendor in the market will experience large-scale financial issues such as bankruptcy. This limits the risk of unexpected discontinuation of services or long-term supply shortages.
A highly globalized supply chain creates a high level of risk because disruptions of one part of the supply chain can cause large price spikes, delays, or shortages. This risk is exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding US tariff policy.
Market share concentration is extremely high, thus harming buyers’ ability to negotiate and limiting supplier options.
The United States is a net importer of smartphones, offering a diverse range of product choices to buyers with competitive pricing. The heavy foreign presence of smartphones encourages price competition and innovation in the market, however, the reliance on imports poses risks such as supply chain disruptions, currency fluctuations, and trade policy uncertainties.
Supplier Information
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include battery energy storage systems, central processing units, smartphones, solid state drives, flash memory devices. Founded in 1969, the company is currently headquartered in Suwon-si,... Subscribe to learn more
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, information and real estate and rental and leasing sectors. The company's offerings include central processing units, smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers. Founded in 1976, the company is currently headquartered... Subscribe to learn more
Alphabet Inc.
Alphabet Inc. is an Internet technology company offering various products, services, and solutions spanning computing, search, cloud, and online advertising technologies. It organizes its business into three segments: the Google Services Segment, which includes ads, Android, Chrome, hardware (including Fitbit,... Subscribe to learn more
At&T Inc.
At&T Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, information and professional, scientific and technical services sectors. The company's offerings include electronic logging devices, smartphones, office phones, air cards, mobile enterprise application platforms. Founded in 1885, the company... Subscribe to learn more
Deutsche Telekom Ag
Deutsche Telekom Ag is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing and information sectors. The company's offerings include smartphones and push-to-talk over cellular services. Founded in 1995, the company is currently headquartered in Bonn, Germany with an estimated employee count of over 10,000.... Subscribe to learn more
Lenovo Group Limited
Lenovo Group Limited is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing, real estate & rental & leasing and professional, scientific & technical services sectors. The company's offerings include smartphones, hard disk drives, laptop computers, desktop computers, computer servers. Founded in 1997,... Subscribe to learn more
LG Electronics Inc.
LG Electronics Inc. is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include lithium-ion batteries, battery energy storage systems, photovoltaic panels, smartphones, lcd panels & monitors. Founded in 2002, the company is currently headquartered in Seoul, Korea, South... Subscribe to learn more
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company offering digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to businesses and individuals worldwide. It develops cloud-based solutions that deliver customers with software, services, platforms, and content and provides solution support and consulting services.... Subscribe to learn more
Nokia Corp.
Nokia Corp. is a public company operating in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include smartphones and network routers. Founded in 2015, the company is currently headquartered in United States of America. Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Smartphones Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Average Order Value and Cost of Goods Sold. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Delivery and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Order Value |
|
Total revenue Number of orders |
The average order value represents the revenue generated from an average order for the vendor. This KPI can indicate a company's reputation as well as consumers’ willingness to select this specific vendor. |
| Cost of Goods Sold |
|
Total revenue Total additional costs |
The cost of goods sold takes into account the costs that are required to produce the smartphones and can be used to measure profitability after taking these costs into account. |
|
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Distribution
Can you provide a list of your distribution facility locations, domestically and internationally?
Are your delivery services provided in-house or by a third party? If in-house, what arrangements are made with external distribution companies to ensure timely delivery?
Supply Chain Risk
How diversified is your supplier base for inputs? When manufacturing issues arise, can you source products from multiple suppliers in different global regions to restore your stock levels?
Have you experienced any supply disruptions resulting from raw material shortages? How did you cope with these disruptions?
Experience and Expertise
How long have you been manufacturing smartphones?
Can you provide a list of client references, along with contact information?
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Smartphones RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe and specify the size of their organization.
Buyers should indicate whether they only require smartphones or if they are interested in making other electronics- or mobile-related purchases (i.e., tablets or service plans).
Statement Of Need
Buyers should indicate the number of smartphones they need.
Buyers should provide any required specifications for the devices, such as unlocked status, international calling, network capabilities (e.g., 4G LTE network) and wall charger accompaniment.
Project Budget
Buyers should specify their budgets for smartphones and related goods and services.
Buyers should indicate when payment will occur, stating whether the winning bidder will be paid in one lump sum upon award of the contract, or in installments.
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We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
