Global PC, tablet market to shrink over 10% in 2023: research

The global market for personal computers and tablets is expected to shrink by more than 10% this year, as the demand for remote work and learning devices wanes amid the easing of the COVID-19 crisis.

According to a report by research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), PC and tablet shipments are forecast to drop 11.2% to 403.1 million units in 2023, compared with a year earlier.

That is lower than the level in 2019 before the pandemic boosted the need for home-based computing. IDC said PC shipments are projected to reach 260.8 million units this year, while those for tablets are estimated at 142.3 million units.

The firm revised its previous forecast of 429.5 million units for the combined PC and tablet market, citing weak demand and macroeconomic uncertainty. The outlook for next year is slightly better, with PC and tablet shipments expected to grow 3.6% to 410.7 million units.

IDC expects the market to expand at an average annual rate of 1.9% over the next five years, reaching 435.3 million units by 2027. The firm said PC shipments will increase by 2.9% during this period, but tablet shipments will remain flat.

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com