Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) smartphones will account for over 54 percent of total smartphone shipments by 2028, with an installed base exceeding 1 billion, according to the latest report released by Counterpoint Research on Friday. Smartphone manufacturers such as Google, Samsung, and Apple have been at the forefront of integrating GenAI into their devices.
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GenAI Smartphone Shipments
However, Counterpoint predicts that AI will be democratised by a close ecosystem of collaboration and technological advancements, along with the resources invested by hardware brands and AI platforms, according to the report.
Brands such as Realme, Oppo, and Vivo have commercially launched smartphones equipped with GenAI capabilities, leveraging partnerships with technology companies such as Google and Microsoft.
Smartphones Driving GenAI Adoption
"One of the key drivers of this democratization is the increasing affordability of GenAI capabilities. Smartphones are the perfect carrier for experiencing AI functionalities. Mid-range models are now getting GenAI through software updates and hybrid deployments. We can expect more mid-range and even budget devices to offer GenAI-powered experiences in the future," Counterpoint said.
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"Currently, a wide range of GenAI use cases are emerging on both flagship and mid-range smartphones. This expanding accessibility ensures that a large portion of the market can experience the benefits of AI-powered innovations," the report added.
Last year, Oppo reportedly introduced GenAI features across all its smartphone product lines, enabling approximately 50 million Oppo users to access GenAI functionalities on their devices.
The report further highlighted that key players in the ecosystem, including Android brands, SoC vendors, LLM developers and the AI software ecosystem, are collaborating to accelerate the integration of GenAI into smartphones.
5G an Enabling Factor
Counterpoint also noted that 5G penetration will play a crucial role in democratizing AI. The high bandwidth and low latency of 5G enable access to cloud-based AI resources, facilitating the adoption of hybrid GenAI modes, particularly in mid-range smartphones.
By leveraging 5G's low-latency connectivity, "Chinese brands are actively collaborating with Google and Meta on large language models (LLMs) for their global users. They continuously introduce new AI features that create new usage habits, such as using interactive voice assistants for searches, information gathering, and generating images and text, the report added.
Counterpoint predicts that global 5G smartphone shipments will exceed 1 billion units by 2026 and surpass 85 percent of overall smartphone shipments by 2028.
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"The convergence of powerful hardware, collaborative ecosystems, widespread 5G adoption, decreasing costs and hybrid mode is driving the rapid democratisation of AI in smartphones," Counterpoint said in a blog post sponsored by Oppo.
