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Dubai - Smartphones are still the de facto king of the consumer electronics hill.

It's that time of the year - actually, the first of two times in a year - where technology-hungry individuals converge for Dubai's gadget-palooza, Gitex Shopper Spring.
And it's a total consumer electronics slugfest; consider it like WWE's Royal Rumble this side of the tech world, with retailers and buyers scrambling to offer and grab the best deals.
Gitex Shopper organisers are excited whenever the event comes around; it is probably - maybe even hands-down - the most consumer-centric show held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Buyers, in the same breadth, are equally enthusiastic looking forward to it, thanks to deals and prizes splashed throughout.

And there's a united front in concluding that everyone will have an eye out for trends - especially with devices that bring mobility, convenience and smartness.
The value of the global consumer electronics market, according to a new study by Persistence Market Research, is predicted to shoot up to $2.9 trillion by 2020.
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And there are a lot of gizmos that are ready to pitch into that.
Smartphones vs laptops
The consensus is that there are two specific categories that will duke it out for supremacy: smartphones and laptops. And these two have been at it for some time now; smartphone aficionados will argue that these smaller devices can do what traditional computers can, while laptop loyalists will claim that there are things that can be done only with those larger machines.
So have you ever asked yourself, "should I get a mobile or a portable computer?"
"Laptops and smartphones continue to be the core pillars of the accelerating BYOD [bring your own device] trend in the UAE and as employees and employers continue to leverage new technologies to empower a new work-life balance," Narayanan Venkataraman, country category manager for personal systems at Hewlett-Packard, told Khaleej Times.
"We expect the demand both laptops and smartphones to continue to grow."
Smartphones, however, are still the de facto king of the consumer electronics hill, thanks to obvious reasons: they're getting slimmer, becoming more intelligent and giving more value for money - at several times less the bulk.
"Smartphones are constantly developing with screens getting bigger, storage capacity increasing. devices getting smarter, chips and processors becoming faster than ever and the overall user experience improving," Mahesh Chotrani, assistant vice-president at Jacky's Electronics, says.
But don't count computers out just yet; in fact, never count them out. Retailers see 2-in-1 hybrids - those that can function as a laptop and a tablet - raking in more interest.
"There is a huge demand for 2-in-1s in the market today as they offer a lot of flexibility, ideally suited for leisure and business wherever you are," said Nilesh Khalkho, chief executive officer of Sharaf DG.
And, like what was mentioned earlier, there are still many things computers can do that smartphones can't - especially when you link it with other technologies at par in popularity, or at the very least, potential.
"Consumers today have become more connected and mobile, which has made the laptop a predominant form of computing," Raghav Koorichh, consumer category head at Dell Middle East, told Khaleej Times.
"Moreover, most organisations have instituted BYOD and flexible work policies, which mean that laptops have evolved into primary devices at workplaces too."
"What we expect with the current emergence of new technologies and form factors and increasing momentum for mobile education and workforce in the UAE, the demand for laptops will likely increase further," added Venkataraman.
A Gartner research forecasts device shipments worldwide to be flat this year, with the PC market posting its fifth straight year of decline in 2016. Things are expected to better in 2018 however, with an uptick expected in both the smartphone and PC categories.
"The global devices market is stagnating. Mobile phone shipments are only growing in emerging Asia-Pacific markets, and the PC market is just reaching the bottom of its decline," Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal said in the report.
"As well as declining shipment growth for traditional devices, average selling prices are also beginning to stagnate because of market saturation and a slower rate of innovation."
Specifically, Gartner says 1.888 billion mobile phones were shipped last year. It expects this figure to tick up to 1.893 billion this year and rise to 1.920 billion in 2018.
The International Data Corporation, meanwhile, states in its own report that shipments of smartphones, specifically, will rise 4.2 per cent to 1.53 billion units this year from the 1.47 billion in 2016, then further increasing to 1.77 billion by 2021, a compound annual growth rate of 3.8 per cent.
"Despite the solid holiday quarter, 2016 represented the first year of single-digit growth for smartphones on record as both saturation and competition remained high in numerous key growth markets," Anthony Scarsella, research manager for the IDC's mobile phones team, said in the report.
Mobiles are, in a certain essence, our life. We have all our important things in it - which we can carry wherever we go.
"Smartphones have established themselves as the ultimate personal statement," Neeraj Seth, head of marketing for the Middle East and Africa at HTC, told Khaleej Times.
"There is room for existing manufacturers to build on their strengths. In the premium segment, saturation is somewhat to a lesser degree as success is based on the credibility of the brand. it's the brands' reputation of introducing new technologies and superior experiences with every new device they bring to the market."
The rest of the field
Those who've had their fill of the machines mentioned above could be looking for an extension of their tech desires, or just simply for a more fulfilling experience.
"We anticipate that apart from smartphones and laptops, it will be wearables and VR that will generate the most demand and excitement among shoppers," Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group, told Khaleej Times.
Yes, gaming and VR are like peanut butter and jelly - they complement each other and bring more zest to the PC experience.
"With the influx of gaming systems and devices in the region. [and] with the introduction of VR, laptops are gaining further traction as a core device for gaming," says Koorichh.
"Gameplay with these products allow users to be immersed in a simulated live environment, including 360-degree video, surround sound and physical interactivity. it is taking the world of gameplay to another level," adds Khalkho.
And don't forget about wearables; though not as widespread as other major categories, people are starting to appreciate them and it may not be long before they could be able to challenge for supremacy in the gizmo arms race.
A recent CCS Insight study showed that the wearables market is poised for strong growth over the next five years, and is pegged to hit $14 billion in 2016.
"We believe in wearable technology as the future of the technology world," says Laurent Riche, general manager of Plug Ins.
"It is a young industry with a rapid growth rate. We have seen a strong year of growth in 2016 in terms of wearable products and are expecting the same trend to follow."
Atwal points out a key factor: consumers are always looking for innovation, finding a compelling excuse to purchase new stuff.
"Consumers have fewer reasons to upgrade or buy traditional devices. They are seeking fresher experiences and applications in emerging categories, such as head-mounted displays, virtual personal assistant speakers and wearables," he stresses.
Still, one thing is certain: people will still get their techie needs and wants.
"Despite reports of a slowed global economy, we are expecting continued momentum in consumer electronics sector [especially] in the UAE," Khanzadah says.
"The smartphone market continues to grow with the consistently increasing smartphone penetration here in the UAE," Seth adds.
"This growth in the customer base is accompanied by more players catering to a wide range of customer preferences of price points and features."
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com