More than one in three smartphones sold in 2021 will be a 5G handset

Global smartphone sales are forecast to top 1.5 billion in 2021. — AFP Relaxnews

Global smartphone sales are expected to top 1.5 billion in 2021, according to the latest forecasts from Gartner. More than one in three units, or around 538 million handsets, are expected to feature 5G support.

Some 213 million 5G handsets were sold in 2020, or around 15% of total smartphone sales worldwide. This figure is forecast to more than double in 2021, proving a major driving force in the estimated 11% growth in smartphone sales in 2021, up from 1.37 to 1.53 billion unit sales.