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Market for Personal Computing Devices Remains Soft Overall, But Notebooks Present A Silver Lining, According to IDC
[December 04, 2018]

Market for Personal Computing Devices Remains Soft Overall, But Notebooks Present A Silver Lining, According to IDC


Unit shipments for the global personal computing devices market, comprised of traditional PCs (made up of desktops, notebooks and workstations) and tablets, is expected to decline 3.9% in 2018, according to the latest forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. This contraction is expected to continue throughout the forecast period as the market further shrinks to 378.3 million units shipped in 2022 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.8%.

The forecast incorporates an updated set of assumptions, which reflect both areas of growth as well as concern. Tablets, once hailed as the biggest threat to notebooks, once again saw disappointing numbers in the third quarter of 2018 and the outlook has been scaled back compared to the previous forecast. More specifically, slate tablets have been in decline since 2015 and are expected to contract over the five-year forecast with a CAGR of -5.8%. Even though the pace of the slate decline has slowed, continued pressure from smartphones, limited innovations, and further increase in slate life cycles are likely to weigh against volume recovery. The forecast for detachable tablets was also adjusted downwards toward a more conservative growth trajectory because of market consolidation and increased challenges to consumer adoption, although IDC (News - Alert) sees improvement from some verticals like education and finance. Traditional PCs are also expected to struggle, especially desktops, but there are brighter spots such as gaming, business PC upgrades, and an expanding presence for higher end notebooks. Notebooks and mobile workstations still command the largest product category volume and its share within total PCD devices are expected to grow the most through 2022. Chrome OS, which is the dominant operating system within the global education notebook market, is expected to make gains in the consumer and business installed base. Improvements in the Windows value proposition also means gains for higher end systems, such as convertible notebooks filling in markets where detachable tablets have faltered.

"In the short term, the traditional PC market will see some impact from a processor shortage, which is expected to affect lower end SKUs more significantly," said Jay Chou, research manager, Personal Computing Devices Tracker at IDC. "But with the commercial upgrade heading into its final stretch over the next year or so, we believe that will drive much of the focus and volume, with opportunities across the pricing spectrum."





 
Personal Computing Device Forecast, 2018-2022 (shipments in millions)
Product Category  

2018
Shipments*

 

2018
Share*

 

2022
Shipments*

 

2022
Share*

 

2018-2022
CAGR*

Desktop + DT & Datacenter WS   93.7   23.0%   82.3   21.8%   -3.2%
Notebook + Mobile Workstation 164.1   40.3%   166.6   44.0%   0.4%
Detachable Tablet 20.7   5.1%   28.0   7.4%   7.8%
Slate Tablet   128.5   31.6%   101.4   26.8%   -5.8%
Grand Total   407.0   100.0%   378.3   100.0%   -1.8%
                     
Traditional PC 257.8   63.3%   248.9   65.8%   -0.9%
Traditional PC + Detachable 278.5 68.4% 276.9 73.2% -0.1%
Total Tablet (Slate + Detachable)   149.2   36.7%   129.4   34.2%   -3.5%
Source (News - Alert): IDC Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, December 4, 2018

* Notes: All figures represent forecast data.


Traditional PCs include Desktop, Notebook and Workstation form factors.

IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker gathers data in more than 90 countries and provides detailed, timely, and accurate information on the global personal computing device market. This includes data and insight into global trends around desktops, notebooks, detachable tablets, slate tablets, and workstations. In addition to insightful analysis, the program delivers quarterly market share data and a five-year forecast by country. The research includes historical and forecast trend analysis.

For more information, or to subscribe to the research, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or [email protected].

About IDC Trackers

IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading media, data and marketing services company that activates and engages the most influential technology buyers. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter (News - Alert) at @IDC and LinkedIn.

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.


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