Mobile operators remain the leading smartphone retailers, but not among young adults

Consumer and smart home devices are on a continuous innovation curve. For companies operating in this sector, including operators, understanding shifts in consumer behaviour and emerging trends is crucial to formulate successful business strategies. This report draws on findings from the GSMA Intelligence consumer survey to uncover insights that can help players in these ecosystems sharpen their competitive strategies and refine their product offerings.

This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on consumer devices, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and the implications. The report considers four major developments: innovation in smartphones spanning both emerging form factors and fundamental features; new advancements and innovations in XR hardware and OS; important developments in the handheld games console market; and major milestones in the smartphone eSIM market.

Apple held its Surprise and Shine event earlier this month, unveiling its latest range of devices. The standout was the much-anticipated foldable iPhone Duo, combining top-end specifications with what appeared to be a refined user experience. In this report, we dissect Apple’s new product developments and innovations from the event while assessing what they mean for the wider mobile industry.