Q3 Sees 7.2% YoY Decline in PC Shipments

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), PC shipments in the third quarter of 2023 were down by 7.2% compared to the same period last year. The total number of units shipped reached 68.5 million. This decline is part of a larger trend, as IDC predicts that full-year 2023 shipments will be down by 13.8% compared to the previous year, which itself saw a 16.6% decrease from 2021.

This marks the second consecutive year of double-digit year-over-year drops in the PC market, a situation that has never been seen before. The industry is facing significant challenges, and hopes for a market rebound in 2024 are now resting on several factors.

Looking beyond 2024, IDC expects growth to surpass pre-pandemic shipment levels, with projections indicating a total of 285 million units by 2027. This positive outlook is based on various factors that are expected to drive the market forward.

"Perhaps historical context can offer some consolation to the tough slog the PC ecosystem is going through," says Jay Chou, an analyst at IDC. "While we still anticipate eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year volume declines from Q1 2022 through Q4 2023, it is important to note that this pales in comparison to the 19 consecutive quarters of year-over-year PC declines from Q2 2012 to Q4 2016."

Chou further adds, "Furthermore, notebooks are already at higher levels than in 2019, signaling a significant expansion of the notebook market even after the initial surge in purchases due to the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. We maintain that factors such as hybrid work, commercial refresh, and growth in premium PCs can lead to a compound annual growth rate of 3.1% from 2023 through 2027."