Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
PCs - statistics & facts
The introduction of PCs capable of handling artificial intelligence (AI) on-device, coupled with the beginning of a commercial refresh cycle, is a sign of hope for the global PC market. This is timely, particularly as the industry went through a period of inventory rebalance in 2023, contributing to a 15 percent fall in shipments during the year. However, with the global economy nearing recovery, so has the PC market, with shipments finally showing signs of growth moving into 2024.
A challenging year for the PC industry
This optimism came following successive quarters of decline, a stark contrast from a booming PC market that reaped the benefits from the adoption of remote and hybrid work arrangements. Consumers and enterprises sought to acquire new devices to adapt to new living and working methods, a trend that saw the PC market reach record levels. While PC sales will continue to fluctuate, the market remains buoyant, supported by the continued demand arising from the digital routines of the modern world.Lenovo and HP continue to dominate the market
The leader in the global PC market in 2023 was Lenovo, capturing a share of just under 25 percent. The company’s closest competitor has long been HP, with this trend once again occurring in 2023 as the company ranked second among vendors with 22 percent control of the market. In terms of PC shipments, Lenovo recorded 59.8 million in 2023, while HP achieved 52.9 million, although both saw their figures fall compared to the previous year. Other notable vendors in the PC market include Dell, Apple, Asus, and Acer, companies that offer a range of devices including notebook, desktop, and tablet computers.AI PCs to power digital lives
For vendors, remaining agile and adapting to the needs of users will enable them to keep ahead, whether it be gaming enthusiasts or casual users taking on routine tasks. And now, with the rise in AI and the demands it is putting on computing power, offering devices that can handle AI both via the cloud and on-device will become increasingly attractive to potential buyers.
