Key points:

  • PC shipments in the first quarter of 2024 were up 1.5% compared to 2023.
  • Lenovo Group is the market leader with a 23% share.
  • Apple showed shipment growth of 14.6%, taking 8.1% of the market.

According to preliminary data provided by research company International Data Corporation (IDC), the global personal computer market showed growth in the first quarter of 2024, reversing its downward trajectory for the first time in two years.

This trend marks a welcome recovery from the protracted period of declining PC shipments that has been observed since 2022.

Why is this an important event?

According to the report, the first quarter of 2024 saw a 1.5% increase in personal computer shipments compared to the same period in 2023. Shipments reached 59.8 million devices, which corresponds to pre-pandemic levels.

This growth is due to the start of the upgrade cycle for PCs purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The continued rise of AI-enabled PCs is expected to boost demand in the market, helping it recover from the slump caused by the PC boom during the pandemic.

Despite the challenges faced by China, market growth is forecast to continue into 2024.

Context of the situation

According to IDC, PC shipments increased 1.5% year-over-year in 2023, reaching 59.8 million units.

Lenovo Group remains the market leader with a share of 23%. It is followed by HP Inc. (20%) and Dell Technologies (15.5%). Apple showed shipment growth of 14.6%, taking 8.1% of the market.

Demand for PCs has been negatively impacted by the economy over the past two years, with high interest rates and inflation forcing businesses and consumers to delay upgrading their devices.

Weakness in the Chinese market, the largest consumer of desktop PCs, has negatively impacted global device sales. At the same time, the popularity of desktop PCs continues to decline in favor of laptops, especially in China.

In connection with the current dynamics, the following forecasts for the future are made:

  • IDC expects PC market growth to continue into 2024.
  • Canalys forecasts the US PC market to grow 7% in 2024 and 10% in 2025.