With memory semiconductor prices continuing to rise, an outlook emerged that the global PC market will contract this year. Analysts said the rise in memory prices is feeding into higher finished goods prices, which will dampen consumer demand.
On the 26th, market research firm Counterpoint Research projected that global PC shipments this year will fall about 5% from a year earlier to 262 million units.
Top PC vendors such as Lenovo, HP, and Dell are forecast to decline by around 5%. Dell has a high mix of corporate and premium products, making it relatively less price sensitive, so its drop is expected to be the smallest. In contrast, companies like Asus and Acer rely heavily on the low-end market, increasing the expense burden, and demand is likely to shrink sharply.
Amid this, Apple is expected to capture education and entry-level demand with its MacBook Neo laptop, while the launch of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) laptop in the second half will strengthen its premium lineup and keep demand solid.
Factors that could spur replacement demand in the PC market are also expected to persist. An estimated 40% of installed PCs are still running Windows 10 or earlier, and the shift to Windows 11 is likely to drive replacement demand.