Market Trends 26 July 2025 - 17 December 2025

Smartphone Prices Could Rise Nearly 7% in 2026 as AI Memory Shortage Forces Shipment Cuts, New Forecasts Warn (Dec. 17, 2025)
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Smartphone Prices Could Rise Nearly 7% in 2026 as AI Memory Shortage Forces Shipment Cuts, New Forecasts Warn (Dec. 17, 2025)

Global smartphone shipments are now forecast to fall 2.1% in 2026, with average selling prices rising 6.9%, according to Counterpoint. Analysts blame rising memory chip costs driven by AI demand, which is squeezing supply for consumer devices. Budget phones under $200 face the most pressure as manufacturers shift focus and pass on higher costs.
December 17, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026
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Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026

Apple is on track to ship over 247 million iPhones in 2025, a record, according to IDC. The iPhone 17 surge has pushed Apple’s share of China’s smartphone market above 20% and reversed earlier declines. IDC now expects global smartphone shipments to grow 1.5% this year, up from 1%, driven mainly by Apple. Rising component costs and shortages threaten the rest of the industry in 2026.
December 4, 2025
Apple Set to Overtake Samsung in 2025 Smartphone Shipments as iPhone 17 Surge Ends 14‑Year Streak
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Apple Set to Overtake Samsung in 2025 Smartphone Shipments as iPhone 17 Surge Ends 14‑Year Streak

Apple is projected to surpass Samsung as the world’s top smartphone maker in 2025, shipping about 243 million iPhones versus Samsung’s 235 million, according to Counterpoint Research. This would mark Apple’s first time leading annual global shipments since 2011. In China, iPhone 17 launch sales jumped 18% year-on-year, driving record October results. Apple captured 26% of Singles’ Day smartphone sales in China.
November 27, 2025
AI Boom Sparks Global Memory Chip Crisis: Samsung Hikes Prices Up to 60% and Smartphones Face a 2026 Price Shock
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AI Boom Sparks Global Memory Chip Crisis: Samsung Hikes Prices Up to 60% and Smartphones Face a 2026 Price Shock

Samsung has raised memory chip prices by up to 60% as demand from AI data centers strains global supply, Reuters reports. Smartphone makers including Xiaomi and OPPO have halted RAM orders after suppliers quoted price hikes of up to 50%. Analysts expect smartphone prices to rise through 2026, with some brands considering lower storage to offset costs.
November 17, 2025
Bitcoin Near $120K, Altcoins Soar as New Crypto Law Sparks Market Frenzy – July 27–28, 2025 Crypto Roundup
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Bitcoin Near $120K, Altcoins Soar as New Crypto Law Sparks Market Frenzy – July 27–28, 2025 Crypto Roundup

President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act, the first major U.S. federal crypto law, mandating 1:1 dollar or Treasury backing for stablecoins and banning interest on regulated stablecoins. Congress also advanced a Clarity Act to define SEC and CFTC oversight. Bitcoin’s realized market cap topped $1 trillion as prices hovered near $120,000. Hong Kong and Nigeria enacted new stablecoin rules, while the EU’s MiCA framework advanced.
July 28, 2025
Crypto Whales, ETF Hype and Hacks – Late July 2025 News Roundup
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Crypto Whales, ETF Hype and Hacks – Late July 2025 News Roundup

Galaxy Digital moved 80,000 BTC ($9 billion) in an estate sale July 26–27, briefly pushing Bitcoin below $115,000 before it rebounded. US spot ETH ETFs saw $4.6 billion in inflows over two weeks, with BlackRock’s fund reaching $10 billion AUM. XRP spiked to $3.60 after Ripple’s partial SEC win, then dropped 14% after a 50 million XRP transfer to exchanges. WOO X lost $14 million in a hack, pausing withdrawals.
July 27, 2025
Bitcoin Whales Bet Big, Ethereum ETFs Shatter Records – Crypto News Roundup July 25–26, 2025
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Bitcoin Whales Bet Big, Ethereum ETFs Shatter Records – Crypto News Roundup July 25–26, 2025

Sam Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison sentence in New York for the FTX collapse. An anonymous trader placed a $23.7 million bull call spread on Bitcoin, betting on a year-end price up to $200,000. Bitcoin reached a record $123,000 on July 14 before consolidating near $118,000. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust surpassed $10 billion in assets.
July 26, 2025
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