Notebooks will be the main driver of future growth in the PC market, though supply chain issues are impacting 2021 forecasts, according to the latest data from IDC.
In the latest Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, IDC predicts growth in worldwide PC shipments of 14.2 per cent to 347 million units in 2021; this is down from its May forecast of 18 per cent growth, and reflects continued issues with supply chains and logistics such as the global chip shortage. Tablets are expected to grow 3.4 per cent.
Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, says IDC continues to believe PC demand is still there.
“The lengthening of the supply shortages combined with ongoing logistical issues are presenting the industry with some big challenges.
“However, we believe the vast majority of PC demand is non-perishable, especially from the business and education sectors,” he said.
Traditional PCs (desktops, workstations, and notebooks) are forecast to enjoy a 3.2 per cent compound annual growth rate to 2025, while tablets are tipped to decline 1.5 per cent. IDC says that pandemic-driven spending on tech will slow as consumers shift back to travel and leisure over the next few years, but will leave behind a “significantly greater market” for these devices than before.
