The global smartphone growth percentage will drop below double-digits for the first ever full year in 2015, according to market research company International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC predicts that smartphone shipments will grow just 9.8% globally in 2015 to a total of 14.3 billion units, with no upturn in sight. The Chinese market has been a significant driver in smartphone growth in the past few years. According to IDC China is now a “replacement” market, meaning that the core group of consumers who previously drove smartphone adoption are already mobile. The sub-$100 phones deteriorate quicker, which could bring the average replacement cycle to less than two years, according to IDC.