US PC Shipments Surge 73% - Apple Loses Top Spot
U.S. PC Shipments Experience Significant Growth
Driven by heightened demand stemming from the pandemic, Canalys indicates that PC shipments within the United States increased by 73% compared to the same timeframe last year.
This surge resulted in a total of 34 million units being sold. Although Apple demonstrated positive performance with a 36% increase in sales, it was ultimately outpaced by HP.
HP Leads the Market
HP achieved a total of 11 million units sold, representing an impressive annual growth of 122.6%.
Canalys highlighted that the first quarter typically presents a slower period for Apple’s hardware sales following the holiday season. However, HP’s performance marks a substantial achievement.
Other Key Players Show Strong Gains
Several other companies also reported substantial growth. Samsung experienced a 116% increase, while Lenovo saw growth of 92.8%.
Dell’s growth of 29.2%, while positive, was comparatively moderate against the gains of its competitors.
An Unprecedented Quarter for PC Sales
Overall, the quarter was remarkably strong, with units selling rapidly. Brian Lynch, a Research Analyst at Canalys, attributes some of this to the sustained demand from 2020.
This demand arose as individuals transitioned to remote work and education, necessitating new devices. Lynch stated, “Q1 2021 still rates as one of the best first quarters the industry has ever seen.”
He further noted that vendors have been prioritizing the fulfillment of existing U.S. orders before addressing supply constraints in other global regions.
Chromebooks Drive Growth in the Lower Market Segment
Unsurprisingly, affordable Chromebooks proved to be the most popular choice. Consumers seeking to upgrade their devices, particularly for educational purposes, gravitated towards the lower end of the PC market.
This trend likely had a detrimental effect on sales of Apple’s higher-priced products, contributing to its shift from the leading position.
Samsung and Other Chromebook Vendors Excel
Samsung and other Chromebook vendors experienced significant success. Over the past year, Chromebook sales increased by 548%, with Samsung leading the charge with an extraordinary growth rate of 1,963%.
Asus, HP, and Lenovo all reported Chromebook sales increases exceeding 900%.
Notebooks and Tablets Fuel Sales
These figures encompass desktops, notebooks, tablets, and workstations. However, the majority of the growth was driven by notebooks and tablets.
Notebook sales surged by 131% year-over-year (YoY), while tablet sales increased by 51%, reaching 11 million units sold during the quarter.
Future Outlook Remains Positive
The company anticipates that the market will not experience a substantial slowdown in the coming quarters, sustained by ongoing demand within the education sector.
Despite persistent component shortages, particularly in the chip market, the firm believes this will further stimulate demand in the near future.
