Australian retailers are set to benefit from rising ultra-slim and convertible 2-in-1 notebook demand, offsetting declining PC shipments according to IDC.
IDC forecasts shipments of personal computing devices (inc. traditional PCs and tablets) to decline at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2019 – 2023.
By contrast, 2-in-1 devices (inc. convertible PCs and detachable tablets) and ultra-slim notebooks are tipped to grow 5%.
The analytics firm expects global PC device shipments to slump below 400 million next year – the first time since 2010, the year the iPad was launched.
“Concerns about whether tariffs will drive consumer costs up have many vendors trying to put product into the channel early, so the real focus will be monitoring sell out for the remainder of the year and into 2020,” claims Ryan Reith, Program VP with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.
Both Apple and Microsoft are tipped to push their detachable form factor category forward (i.e. 2-in-1 devices), with iOS detachables forecast to snare around one quarter of the market.
“Apple’s support for a physical keyboard by adding a smart connector to the 2019 iPad and the launch of iPadOS will help to further cement detachables as a viable alternative to modern notebooks and convertibles,” adds Jitesh Ubrani, Research Manager, IDC Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.
5G connectivity is also forecast to propel growth, with 10% of detachable tablets to support the next-gen network by 2023.
IDC expects ultra-slim and convertible notebooks with cellular connectivity to grow at a double-digit CAGR.
