Global smartphone market sinks to lowest level in 14 years

RAMageddon is showing no sign of stopping, if the global smartphone market is to be believed.A new report from Counterpoint, a market research firm, indicates that global smartphone shipments were down 20 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026. According to Counterpoint, they hit the lowest level measured since 2012, which was a time when smartphones were still not quite as prevalent in everyday life as they are now. The explanation, according to Counterpoint, is that "relentless in