Personal Computer Market Shows Signs of Rebound in Q4

By Will Feuer

Research firm Gartner reports that global shipments of personal computers have experienced a revival in the fourth quarter of the year, marking the first increase after a prolonged period of decline. Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa states that the PC market has reached the bottom of its decline, with this slight growth indicating a balance between supply and demand.

According to Gartner's findings, Apple observed a notable increase of over 7% in PC shipments during Q4, while Lenovo and HP witnessed a rise of approximately 3% and nearly 6%, respectively. On the other hand, Dell experienced a decline of 8% in their shipments.

However, when considering the overall performance for the full year, PC shipments suffered a considerable drop of nearly 15%, with total units shipped falling below 250 million for the first time since 2006. Gartner forecasts a return to growth in PC shipments for the upcoming year. Nevertheless, Kitagawa advises caution, highlighting that potential component price increases and geopolitical uncertainties may pose challenges for the sector.