London, Hong Kong, Boston, Toronto, New Delhi, Beijing, Taipei, Seoul – July 30, 2021

Global PC demand continued to grow in Q2 2021 amid component shortages, with shipments increasing 15% YoY to 80.1 million during the quarter, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest data. This growth was largely driven by work-from-home and distance learning requirements triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak. In terms of shipment mix, both commercial and consumer demand remained strong, with models from the former category outpacing the latter one.

The global PC supply chain has been experiencing component shortages for the past several months, resulting in an imbalance between orders and actual shipments. This situation will not improve in the second half of the year. Therefore, we may not see normal seasonal trends in the PC market in 2021, as accumulated orders cannot be fulfilled anytime soon.

With the pandemic continuing to drive demand, global PC shipments are likely to reach another peak this year since the early 2010s. Research Analyst William Li said, “We expect double-digit shipment growth in 2021 but have reduced the number slightly to factor in component shortages and Chromebook sales slowdown. In 2022, demand triggered by the new Windows 11 and post-pandemic work patterns will not be sufficient to further boost the gigantic expansion of 2021. Therefore, we may see a relatively soft market next year.”

Global PC Shipments by Vendor, Q2 2021

Lenovo stayed ahead in the market in Q2 2021 with a 25% share. The company is likely to extend its dominance and outperform the global PC market. HP’s 23% share marked its stability in the enterprise market, though its growth momentum was partly offset by decelerating Chromebook shipments. Dell also leveraged the elevated commercial demand to gain 20% YoY and push forward its market share to 17%. Apple’s 22% YoY growth in the quarter supported its 7.5% market share despite severe component shortages.

Thanks to the introduction of Apple Silicon M1, Macs had their greatest Q2 sales ever and reached 6 million shipments in the quarter and 90% Macs are powered by M1 chips. Associate Director Brady Wang said, “The M1 can meet most of the general demands. However, it is not only a replacement for the Intel CPU but also allows Apple to develop new apps and create fully controlled ecosystems. Furthermore, M1-powered Macs can help Apple improve its profit margin by increasing Mac store sales and lowering production expenses.”

Background

Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

William Li

Brady Wang

Counterpoint Research
press(at)counterpointresearch.com