Despite a marginal decline in shipments compared to the prior year, the global PC market demonstrated unexpected strength in the fourth quarter of 2023, signaling a potential turnaround from consecutive declines, as per the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.
Lenovo (59 million units), HP (52.9 million), Dell (40 million), Apple (21.7 million) and Asus (16.8 million) are the top five PC brands in 2023 based on their market share in the world, according to IDC.
Preliminary results unveiled that approximately 67.1 million PCs were shipped worldwide in Q4 2023, marking a slight 2.7 percent decrease from the previous year. While this reflects a continuing contraction trend for the eighth consecutive quarter, the industry finds solace in indications that the downward spiral might be nearing its conclusion, fostering anticipation for potential growth in 2024.
The holiday season, traditionally a peak period for PC sales, witnessed the lowest fourth-quarter volume since 4Q06, attributing the subdued market recovery to sluggish demand coupled with heavy reliance on promotional strategies.
In 2022, the PC shipment volume plummeted by 16.5 percent compared to the prior year, followed by a further 13.9 percent contraction in 2023 compared to 2022. This unprecedented back-to-back decline underscores the aftermath of the heightened PC purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, emphasized the PC market’s turbulent journey, stating, “Despite the shipment decline in 2023, there’s considerable positive momentum going forward. While AI has garnered significant attention, the anticipated strong year for commercial PC refresh and ongoing advancements in gaming PCs will fuel market excitement in 2024.”
Brands focused on the commercial segment of the PC market are poised for a more confident stride into 2024, but technological innovations are expected to create avenues for both commercial and consumer vendors to thrive, IDC said.
