Q1 PC shipments shrink to lowest level since 2007

Worldwide PC shipments fell 9.6% during the first quarter of 2016, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of declines, Gartner estimates.

Shipment volumes shrank to 64.8 million units for the quarter, falling below 65 million for the first time since 2007.

All major regions showed year-on-year declines, with shipments in APAC falling 5.1% to 23.3 million units. But the largest impact was felt in Latin America, where shipments tumbled 32.4%.

Gartner attributed the weak performance to a number of factors, including the deterioration of local currencies against the US dollar, slower adoption of PCs in new households in emerging markets due to smartphone substitution and a shrinking installed base in developed markets such as the US.

Lenovo maintained the top position for market share in the first quarter despite a 7.2% decline in shipments. Second-ranked HP Inc reported a 9% decline in shipments, compared to just 0.4% for third-ranked Dell.

Asus and Apple, in fourth and fifth place, bucked the trend with increases in shipment volumes of 1.5% and 1% respectively.

The PC market is expected to get a much-needed boost from the Windows 10 refresh cycle in the enterprise segment. But Gartner does not expect this to commence until the end of 2016.

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