PC shipments at lowest point since Q2 2011, says Canalys

Only two-in-ones grew in the entire segment at just over 13 per cent, while tablets continue to be the worst affected category with shipments falling around 15 per cent to just under 39 million units.

According to Canalys, “all PC categories in Asia Pacific continue to experience weakness, affected by improving quality and falling prices in the smartphone market.” In low-income markets, notebooks and tablets are no longer must-have products and multiple device ownership is becoming less common, it said. PC shipments in Asia Pacific and Greater China dipped 14% as the Chinese market saw its third consecutive quarter of double-digit declines.

North America was the best performing region in the quarter, with PC shipments falling only around 5 per cent. The tablet market in the US was aided by shipments of large screen detachable tablets such as the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro 4.

Shipments of two-in-ones and detachable tablets are expected to continue to do well in the US and will grow in high income markets. New form factors will trigger an increase in PC ASPs, benefitting the two-in-one and tablet categories at the expense of notebooks,” the report said.

“The global PC market had a bad start to 2016 and it is difficult to see any bright spots for vendors in the coming quarters. The tablet boom has faded in the distance and the market is fully mature. Global shipment declines are expected to continue unless vendors bring transformational innovation to the market,” commented Tim Coulling, Canalys Senior Analyst.

Watch all our video reviews

He said Apple and Microsoft were propping up shipments in established markets with their detachables, but price points make them less affordable in low-income countries. Coulling added that cheaper alternatives from other vendors are unlikely to have a big impact on volumes in the short term. “The number of people looking to buy their first PC is at an all-time low and 2016 is likely to bring yet more turmoil to global PC vendors.”