The global PC market will be challenging in 2022-2023

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After two years of strong growth, PC shipments began to slow down in 2022, with global shipments from the traditional PC business, which includes desktops, laptops, and workstations, declining sequentially in the first and second quarters of 2022. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and macroeconomic factors, supply and logistics have further deteriorated, and the decline has also exceeded previous expectations.

According to TechPowerup, the latest IDC worldwide quarterly personal computing device tracking report shows that the PC market will usher in turbulent times, with global shipments of traditional PCs expected to drop by 12.8% to 305.3 million units in 2022, while tablet shipments will drop by 6.8% to 156.8 million units. IDC said a weak global economy, inflation, and a surge in purchases over the past two years were the main reasons for the decline in shipments.

“With economic headwinds gaining speed, we expect worsening consumer sentiment to result in further consumer market contractions over the next six quarters,” added Linn Huang, research vice president, Devices & Displays. “Economic recovery in time for the next major refresh cycle could propel some growth in the outer years of our forecast. Though volumes won’t hit pandemic peaks, we expect the consumer market to drive towards more premium ends of the market.”

The combined shipments of the traditional PC and tablet market will continue to decline, with an expected decline of 2.6%, although growth is expected to resume by 2024.

IDC researchers said the lack of consumer information will further shrink the consumer market over the next six quarters, and there may be some growth if the economy recovers in time before the next major refresh cycle. Although shipments will not return to their peaks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumer market is expected to move in a higher-end direction.

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