CCS Insight predicts that smartphones with self-healing displays could be introduced to the market by 2028. The technology would involve a nano-coating on the display’s surface that, when scratched, creates a new material reacting to air and filling in the imperfection. While this concept is not entirely new, with LG promoting self-healing technology in 2013, CCS Insight anticipates commercial success within five years. Several other phone makers, including Apple and Motorola, have also explored self-healing materials, but mass-scale deployment requires substantial investment in research and development. The challenge lies in marketing and selling phones on a large scale while ensuring consumers understand the level of damage that can be fixed without manual intervention. CCS Insight notes the risk of tech tear-down enthusiasts testing self-healing capabilities with a knife, emphasizing the focus on technology that can make minimal repairs automatically.
CCS Insight also predicts that HTC, a pioneer in the virtual reality (VR) industry, may exit the market by 2026. The company has faced stiff competition from Meta, Sony, and Apple in the VR space. While HTC has contributed significantly to VR, it has struggled to compete on pricing, and CCS Insight believes that by 2026, HTC may exit the market and sell its intellectual property to larger players in the space.
Another forecast by CCS Insight suggests that Apple might seek more direct control over the second-hand smartphone market. To counter the growing popularity of second-hand devices, Apple may encourage customers to trade in their phones directly rather than using third-party marketplaces. Additionally, Apple could incentivize carriers to return old phones for credits toward new iPhones. CCS Insight also envisions Apple focusing on a verified system for grading refurbished iPhones to promote quality second-hand devices, aligning with the industry trend towards circular products that can be repaired and resold to reduce electronic waste. CCS Insight estimates that iPhones currently account for around 80% of the organized secondary smartphone market.
