IDC: The global PC and tablet markets will shrink further

According to the latest data from IDC, the global PC and tablet markets are expected to shrink further. It is expected that global shipments will drop by 11.9% to 456.8 million units in 2022, and will continue to decline next year. Shipments of traditional PCs will drop 5.6% to 281 million units, while tablet shipments will drop 6.7% to 148 million units.

Despite the sharp decline, the global market continues to be challenged by macroeconomics, excess channel inventory, and high inflation. IDC expects the traditional PC market to fare better than the tablet market, with a compound annual growth rate of just over 1% over the next five years, compared to a -1.7% compound annual growth rate for tablets over the same period.

The current global macroeconomic weakening is affecting all market segments, with consumers being the hardest hit. For this reason, IDC has lowered its forecast for the consumer, education, and commercial markets, but by 2024, commercial PCs will enter a refresh cycle, and there may be relatively strong demand.