The fourth quarter of 2023 saw a 2.7% decline in global PC shipments, marking the lowest volume for the holiday quarter since 4Q06, according to the International Data Corp. (IDC), a market intelligence firm.
IDC’s data reveals that despite surpassing expectations, traditional PC shipments globally were down, totaling approximately 67.1 million units. Lenovo claimed the top spot with 16.1 million units, followed by HP Inc. with 13.9 million units, Dell with 9.9 million units, Apple in fourth place with 5.7 million units, and Asus rounding out the top 5 with 4.2 million units.
IDC noted that while market contractions persisted in 2023, there is a positive outlook for the future.
IDC: PC shipments continue to decline in third quarter
IDC forecasts global PC shipments to rebound in 2024
“While the market was down again in 2023 in terms of shipments, there is a lot of positive momentum for PCs looking forward,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. “2024 is expected to be a strong year for commercial PC refresh, and advancements in gaming PCs continue to drive market excitement.”
Market optimism in 2024
The fourth quarter of 2023 marked the eighth consecutive quarter of year-over-year shipment volume contraction. However, IDC anticipates growth in 2024, suggesting that the market has bottomed out.
On an annual basis, the PC market has witnessed unprecedented consecutive declines, deviating from historical trends since 1995. In 2022, shipment volume plummeted by 16.5% compared to the previous year, and preliminary results indicate an additional 13.9% contraction in 2023 compared to 2022. This prolonged downturn, unparalleled in the industry’s recorded history, reflects the aftermath of the significant surge in PC purchases driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The brands that are positioned better within the commercial segment are likely to have more confidence heading into 2024, but technological advances should create opportunities for both commercial and consumer vendors,” IDC said.