The worldwide smartphone market will return to positive growth in the second half of 2018 with volumes up 1.1% compared to a year earlier, according to IDC.

Overall, global smartphone shipments are expected to decline 0.7% on year to 1.455 billion units in 2018, down from 1.465 billion in 2017.

However, IDC believes the market will experience low single-digit growth from 2019 through the end of its forecast in 2022.

By device types, large-screen smartphones (5.5 inch and larger) will lead the charge with volumes of 941.6 million in 2018, accounting for 64.7% of all smartphones, up from 623.2 million units in 2017 and 42.5% share.

By 2022, shipments of these larger screen smartphones will jump to 1.391 billion units, or 84.5% of overall shipment volume.

While the 18:x aspect ratio started with flagship and higher-end devices in 2017, it began to appear in lower-priced devices in 2018, including some sub-US$200 handsets. By the second quarter of 2018, 16:9 smartphones were overtaken by 17.5:9 aspect ratios (or higher) for the first time.

As Chinese brands, such as Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, expand their international presence, it is likely the focus on large screens and aspect ratios will remain a focus across their entire portfolio.

The anticipation of the new iPhone models this fall, two of which IDC believes will be above 6 inches and available for shipment in the second half of 2018, will act as another catalyst toward driving these important display trends.

The China market is to be down 6.3% in 2018 due to an extremely poor first half, which saw smartphone volumes drop 11%. The second half is expected to improve to a decline of 2% before returning to positive growth in 2019.

Asia-Pacific as a region still holds plenty of market growth led by India and Indonesia, which are expected to grow shipments in 2018 by 14.4% and 15.4% respectively.