Sales of PCs and tablets are expected to take a big hit around the world as the deteriorating economic situation and rising inflation hit another major market.
The latest report (opens in a new tab) from IDC paints a dire picture of the coming years for PC makers and tablet fans alike, with sales plummeting after a peak during the pandemic.
The analyst firm predicts that "traditional" PC shipments (desktops, laptops and workstations) will fall 12,8% in 2022, and tablet shipments will fall 6,8% as consumer buyers and companies around the world tighten their belts.
Drop in PC sales
The consumer market is expected to see a 9,9% drop in shipments as the desire for newer devices dries up due to the deteriorating economic situation. Business sales are expected to decline 1,6% year-over-year, with SME shipments expected to fall 10,5% from 2021.
Overall, IDC estimates total PC and tablet shipments at 462,1 million units in 2022, down 10,8% from the previous year.
The company notes that it expects shipments to continue to fall through 2023, where the combined PC and tablet market is expected to fall 2,6% due to a slowdown in demand from the consumer and education sectors, and the Corporate targets are still forced to watch budgets. .
The outlook isn't entirely bleak, however, as sales are expected to grow again in 2024. By 2026, IDC predicts that sales in the global PC market will have surpassed 2022 shipment figures.
"Although demand is slowing, the outlook for shipments remains above pre-pandemic levels," said Jitesh Ubrani, director of research at IDC Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
“Long-term demand will be driven by a slow economic recovery combined with an enterprise hardware upgrade as support for Windows 10 ends. Educational deployments and hybrid working are also expected to become a mainstay generating additional volumes. .