According to IDC, global PC shipments have shrunk 13.4% YoY in Q2 2023, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of decline.
The downturn is attributed to macroeconomic issues, reduced demand, and a shift in IT budgets.
The impact was severe enough to cause above-average inventory buildup and major losses for industry leaders, with the exception of Apple and HP.
Overall, the quarter witnessed 61.6 million shipments, a significant drop from 71.1 million in Q2 2022.
Ryan Reith, Group VP for IDC's Client Device Trackers, said: “The roller coaster of supply and demand the PC industry has faced over the past five years has been extremely challenging.
"Companies don't want to be caught with short supply like they were in 2020 and 2021, but at the same time, many seem hesitant to make the big bet on a market rebound.”
However, he notes, consumers are gradually reverting to pre-pandemic multi-device habits, favoring smartphones over PCs.
Reith added: “On the commercial side, workforce reductions (for many big companies), as well as the introduction of generative AI, only add more confusion as to where to place an already reduced budget."
