PC shipments fell as smartphone shipments grew in recent years, sparking a crisis among top PC makers. However, global PC shipments finally rose 0.7% during the fourth quarter of 2017, according to IDC, marking the first holiday quarter with growth in six years.
IDC reported that PC shipments stayed flat annually during the first quarter. But its preliminary Q2 numbers were better: PC shipments rose 2.7% year over year, the strongest quarterly growth rate since Q1 2012. All five market leaders -- HP (HPQ -0.11%), Lenovo, Dell, Apple (AAPL 0.64%), and Acer -- posted annual shipments growth during the quarter.
Data source: IDC. Chart by author.
HP, which led the market with a 23.9% share, saw robust demand for its new 2-in-1 devices, particularly in North America. Lenovo, which claimed 22.1% of the market, benefited from its takeover of Fujitsu's PC business.
Dell claimed 18.1% of the market as sales rose across nearly all regions. But Apple, which held a 6.9% share, probably won't see its sales rise much until it updates its MacBook lineup later this year. The PC industry remains a slow-growth one, but these numbers indicate that smartphones won't replace PCs anytime soon.
