According to analysis from research firm Canalys, the global PC and tablet market will suffer a significant fall in sales throughout the rest of 2020, fueled by an economic downturn.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus and its impact on consumer confidence, PC and tablet shipments – including MacBooks and iPads – will reach 367.8 million units this year, down by around 7% over last year’s 395.6 million units shipped. That’s despite the fact more people are working from home and considering permanent remote working positions post-lockdown.
Their data also suggests the market will be flat in 2021, before returning to growth in 2022.
In other news, Canalys suggests that remote learning and education will grow in the second and third quarters of this year, before dipping in the fourth as schools begin to reopen.
Canalys has also suggested that tablets will be considered “non-essential” in the months ahead, with consumers moving away from discretionary spending until the end of this year.
Speaking of changing consumer habits, Rushabh Doshi, Canalys Research Director, said that: “COVID-19 has given the PC industry a boost. Despite the progress that smartphones and tablets have made in recent years, the need for a high-performance mobile computing device has never been more pronounced.”
It is also believed that low-cost devices like Chromebooks will see an increase in sales in the coming months, made for remote learning platforms, with Apple’s more expensive iPads being overlooked due to their costs, as schools suffer budgetary restraints post-crisis.
It’s important to note that Canalys does not have any insight into Apple’s retail or supply chains, and estimates are only offered via independent research and verification.
However, it is not good news for the company or the overall market, suggesting that consumers will be keeping a close eye on their finances and avoiding all non-essential purchases for now.
Have your shopping habits changed during the coronavirus pandemic? Are you putting off a new iPad or Mac? Let us know your situation on social media and check back soon for more.