Increasing PC Prices Will Lead to Flat Growth of Global Device Shipments

Worldwide shipments for PCs, tablets and cell phones are on track to grow 0.9%, reaching 2.28 billion units in 2018. This growth percentage is due to PCs declining 1.2% and cell phones increasing by 1.4%.

Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner, says that the “PC market is still hindered by the undersupply of the DRAM market for all of 2018.” He concludes that as a result, the PC vendors will continue to raise their prices throughout the rest of 2018. However, Gartner witnesses that business demand is shifting to high-end PCs, such as ultramobile premium devices. These devices have a higher value. Gartner estimates the ultramobile premium shipments to increase by 12%.

The PC market’s next significant shift will come from the end of support for Windows 7 by January 2020. It is integral for business to switch over to Windows 10.

The downward trend in China’s PC shipments continues to affect the device market worldwide.