- PC sales fell by 30% in the first quarter of 2023 due to declining demand, excess inventory and poor macroeconomic prospects, according to an IDC study.
- In the past decade, changes in the market, fueled by the rise of smartphones, have led to a decline in demand for PCs.
- Apple and Dell Technologies sales were hardest hit in the first quarter of 2023, with a return to pre-pandemic patterns expected.
Global sales of personal computers (PCs) fell nearly 30 percent in the first three months of 2023.
This is revealed by a study published this Monday, April 10 by the IDC consulting firm.
The causes are based on three reasons: drop in demand, excess stock of most companies and poor macroeconomic prospects.
In the report, IDC says that global PC shipments totaled 56.89 million units between January and March 2023, well below the just over 80 million sold in the same span of 2022.
The setback (very notable, by the way) in the sale of PCs had already been warning about the end of 2022.
Indeed, in the last quarter of last year there had been a global drop in sales of personal computers of 28 percent.
Changes in the PC market
Despite the shock of the past few months and the brief boom during the pandemic, the personal computer industry has undergone significant changes over the past decade as the market for smartphones has grown.
In the early 2010s, personal computers were still the primary device for most people to access the Internet and perform daily tasks.
However, as smartphones became more prevalent, the demand for personal computers began to decline.
To a lesser extent, the introduction of tablets also contributed to changing consumer preferences, as they offered a more portable option than desktop or notebook PCs.
In terms of brands, there was a shift in dominance from traditional PC makers like Dell and HP in the early 2010s, towards newer players like Apple and Lenovo.
PC sales in 2023
Going back to the IDC report, of the top five PC manufacturing companies, Apple’s sales between January and March 2023 were the most affected, with a 40 percent decline compared to the same period in 2022.
Dell Technologies was the second most hit brand: -31 percent.
Lenovo, Asustek Computer and HP, for their part, saw their sales fall, but to a lesser extent.
According to IDC, “a return to pre-coronavirus patterns” is warned. “The pause in growth and the drop in demand are allowing companies to explore changes in their supply chains, exploring production alternatives far from China,” they add at IDC.
Access the IDC report complete.
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