Technologies

Maybe Don’t Wait to Buy a Phone: Tariffs Expected to Slow Smartphone Shipment Growth

The US and China will drive smartphone shipment growth despite ongoing tariff concerns.

If you’re thinking about buying a smartphone, now’s the time to start shopping around. The technology research firm International Data Corporation has lowered its smartphone shipment growth forecast to 0.6% year-over-year because of economic challenges. One of the big reasons cited is the Trump Administration’s tariffs.

In February, IDC predicted 2.3% growth for the year but that was before Trump’s tariffs, which put extra charges on items imported from other countries, especially China. The IDC updated its worldwide quarterly mobile phone tracker on Thursday to show the shift.

What does that mean for smartphone availability and prices? Here’s what you need to know.

The US and China will lead smartphone growth despite trade war

Among all countries tracked globally, the US and China will drive the 0.6% growth, with China expected to have 3% year-over-year growth in smartphone shipment growth and the US expecting a 1.9% growth rate. That’s down from the previous projection caused by the ongoing US-China trade war, said Anthony Scarsella, research director for the IDC.

The growth decline doesn’t seem temporary. It’s expected to remain in the single digits for the foreseeable future. Yet, Nabila Popal, IDC senior research director, says the slowdown in 2025 is certainly short-term and won’t impact the market long term. Growth is expected to be higher in 2026 but will still be in the low single digits due to high penetration, increasing life cycle and the increasing popularity of used smartphones.

What the smartphone growth shift means for you

The big reason for the change is that consumers are buying fewer smartphones for a few economic reasons beyond tariffs.

«I don’t think anyone expected the mayhem of April 2, and the uncertainty that followed after, which is still ongoing,» said Popal. «But a lot of the market decline in 2025 is not just due to the tariffs but also economic challenges in emerging markets stemming from unemployment, inflation and FX volatility that is tightening the consumer wallet.»

Manufacturers are impacted, too. According to IDC, Apple sales could face a decline in China this year because of competition and not qualifying for government subsidies for iPhone models.

However, that could be offset by upcoming mobile product launches, like the iPhone 17, that could boost shipments and sales. For example, the base model of the iPhone 16 was the top-selling smartphone for the first quarter of 2025 globally. The iPhone 17 upgrades are expected to do fairly well, preventing the market from a deeper decline, Popal said.

While you cannot control growth protections and cellphone prices, it’s important to do what’s best for your wallet. If you’re in the market for a new phone and you’re worried about tariffs bumping up the price of the new iPhone or limiting availability, you may consider buying sooner rather than later if you already have the money saved for it. It’s also a good time to save more to account for price increases if you don’t plan on buying right away.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, July 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Kudos to today’s Mini Crossword for being both complex and clever. There are layers upon layers in the clues. It took me a few minutes to sort it all out. Need a helping hand with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Appropriate word that can precede 7-/8-Across and 3-/10-Down
Answer: HALF

5A clue: Remy’s brother in «Ratatouille»
Answer: EMILE

7A clue: Missouri’s postal abbreviation
Answer: MO

8A clue: Light switch position
Answer: ON

9A clue: Done for laughs
Answer: INFUN

11A clue: Richard of «Pretty Woman»
Answer: GERE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Prefix that means 1-Across
Answer: HEMI

2D clue: In the midst of
Answer: AMONG

3D clue: Super Bowl that featured a 28-3 comeback win by the Patriots
Answer: LI

4D clue: Baker’s powder
Answer: FLOUR

6D clue: Dated feminine suffix
Answer: ENNE

10D clue: Iron, on the periodic table
Answer: FE

Technologies

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 18, #298

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 18, No. 298.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

The purple group for today’s Connections: Sports Edition might be a tough one. If you like baseball, have been paying attention to big games and know some famous sports names, then you’ll do just fine with the rest of the puzzle. Read on for more hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Check the score.

Green group hint: Defeated.

Blue group hint: A memorable name.

Purple group hint: Not DC, but the other one.