China’s PC Market Poised for 3% Growth in 2024, Report Reveals

Canalys, a leading market research firm, has released its latest projections for the PC and tablet markets in China. According to their analysis, the PC market (excluding Tablets) is expected to see a rebound in the coming years, with a 3% growth forecast for 2024 and a further 10% expansion in 2025. This growth will be primarily driven by refresh demand from the commercial sector.

The tablet market, on the other hand, is expected to experience a more modest but steady growth of 4% in both 2024 and 2025. This growth can be attributed to the increasing penetration of tablets as digitalization continues to deepen across various industries.

Emma Xu, an analyst at Canalys, commented on the outlook for the PC market in China, stating that while modest relief is expected in 2024, a challenging environment will still persist. Xu emphasized the importance of ongoing economic structural adjustments as the government seeks new avenues for economic growth, particularly focusing on technology-driven innovation. The recent ‘Two Sessions’ in China highlighted the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) as a central theme, with both commercial entities and government initiatives aiming to establish a domestic AI ecosystem across industries.

Xu also highlighted the significant opportunities that will arise for the PC industry as a result of this push for AI, especially as it coincides with the upcoming device refresh and the emergence of AI-capable PCs.

Looking back at 2023, the PC market in Mainland China experienced a decline of 9% year-on-year in Q4, with 11.3 million units shipped. Desktops took a hit with a 13% drop to 3.3 million units, while notebook shipments decreased by 7% to 8.1 million units compared to the previous year. Overall, shipments for the year totaled 41.2 million units, marking a significant 17% decline from 2022.

In the tablet market, China saw a decline of 3% in Q4 2023, with 8.4 million units shipped. The full-year shipments for 2023 amounted to 28.3 million units, indicating increased competition as new entrants focused their efforts on this category.

As China continues to navigate economic adjustments and prioritize technological innovation, the PC and tablet markets are poised for growth in the coming years. With the increasing demand for AI and digitalization, it will be interesting to see how these industries evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses alike.