On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Global smartphone shipments are down by -3% to reach 1.42 billion units in 2018, IDC reports-- before continued developments in emerging markets and the potential of 5G bring back growth in 2019 and through 2022, if in low single-digit form.

The analyst predicts 2019 growth will clock at 2.6%, before shipments reach 1.57bn in 2022. Affecting global shipment numbers is China, once the biggest market in the world now ailing with a 2018 decline of -8.8%, worse than the 2017 downturm. IDC does expect a flat 2019 for China, before a return to positive territory through 2022. Also set to return to growth is the US, following declines in 2018.

In terms of market trends, 2018 sees customers favour larger screens and ultra-high-end devices. All major vendors offer such devices, and in Q3 2018 the 6-7-inch screen size band became the most prominent for the first time with over 400% Y-o-Y growth. IDC believes larger smartphones (5.5-inch and above) will lead the charge, with 2018 volumes of 947.1m, or 66.7% of all smartphones. By 2022, shipments of such larger smartphones will move up to 1.38bn, or 87.7% of overall shipments.

Consumer interest in 4K UHD remains on the up in 2018, receiving a further push due to ASPs reaching parity with HDTVs, Futuresource Consulting reports-- leading to 4K UHD TV shipments for the year to reach over 100 million units.

In addition, the market is set to grow with a double-digit CAGR throughout the analyst forecast period to 2022, while HDR is making its presence felt. Over 50% of 4K UHD TVs sold in 2018 feature HDR, even if consumer understanding of the technology remains limited.

European shipments of 4K UHD TVs are positive, growing by 30% in 2018. Asia Pacific leads in terms of volume thanks to China, the largest single market for 4K UHD, while uptake in N. America is strong thanks to rapidly declining markets and a general preference for larger screens.

Dixons Carphone losses reach £440 million for fiscal H1 2018 (ending 27 October 2018)-- a far cry from the profits of £54m from a year before, and essentially the result of getting hit by charges reaching £490m.

One chunk of said charges is the £225m write-off at the loss-making Carphone Warehouse wing of the business. And that was just one part of a difficult 2018 for the retailer, one that saw it lose both CEO Sebastian James and CFO Humphrey Singer, store closures and a data breach affecting no less than 10 million customers.

However CEO Alex Baldock has a plan to turn Dixons Carphone fortunes around-- one he says will bring savings of at least £200m, all without job losses. Instead the savings will come from a merger of IT systems and reductions in supplier costs. In addition, employees get the opportunity to become Dixon Carphone shareholders through a share awards program.

1More is the next company to offer Android device owners a pair of Apple Airpods-style wireless earbuds-- the Stylish TWS, the first true wirless earbuds from the company promising two and a half hours of playback on a single charge.

Available in black and gold colours with a sleek metal finish, the Stylish TWS come in a rounded "waterdrop" design promising a tight fit. The lightweight design includes circular silicone hooks to ensure the earbuds stay inside the ear, and the package includes three different sizes of both hooks and ear tips. Also included is a case able to fully charge the earbuds twice.