Notable hardware consultancy IDC is predicting that the decline in Chinese smartphone shipments will narrow in 2023, according to a report released on Thursday. The report says that IDC is expecting a 0.9% year-on-year drop in shipments in 2023, less severe than some analysts had previously feared. IDC reasons that the economy and consumer sentiment need time to recover as the Covid epidemic continues. For the long term, IDC is optimistic about the smartphone market in 2024, predicting a rebound in sales numbers. The report also projects a longer cycle for consumers to buy new phones in China, which would extend to 34 months due to Covid curbs and a lack of innovation among phone models. The recent downturn has caused supply to exceed demand, which in turn has led to lower prices of phone components. This could help to expand the application of certain technologies such as OLED and dual-curved displays in low to mid-end products, the report noted. Another notable trend in the Chinese smartphone market according to IDC is that the high-end phone sector (for models priced over $600) will keep growing as Android phone makers look to push their products to a more premium level. [IDC, in Chinese]