A report on Thursday revealed that the shipments of personal computers globally stood at 63.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 0.3 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
The Gartner study emphasised that after experiencing eight consecutive quarters of decline, the shipments finally increased. In 2023 the shipping number reached 241.8 million units, indicating a 14.8 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.
The study underscored that this is the first time since 2006 that the shipment volume has fallen below 250 million units, with only 230 million units being shipped back then.
Commenting on the findings, Mikako Kitagawa, Director Analyst at Gartner said, “Inventory was normalised in the fourth quarter of 2023, which had been an issue plaguing the industry for two years. This subtle growth suggests that demand and supply are finally balanced. However, this situation will likely change due to the anticipated component price hike 2024, as well as geopolitical and economic uncertainties.”
Furthermore, the report found no significant changes in the top six vendor rankings in the fourth quarter of 2023. However, it underlined the mixed results in performance. Lenovo, HP, Apple and Acer recorded YoY growth, while Dell and ASUS showed a decline.
Sharing an overview from the regional perspective the study found that the US PC market recorded its first YoY growth since the second quarter of 2021, with a 1.8 per cent increase in the fourth quarter of 2023. A decline in desktops offset laptop growth.
Additionally, it showcased the top spot maintained by HP in the US PC market based on shipments with a 27.7 per cent market share. This was followed by Dell at 24.2 per cent of US PC market share.
