PC market up 17% in US as hybrid work is here to stay, analyst says
The pandemic-fueled surge in computer buying has slowed some, but Canalys still sees "tremendous" potential for PC makers.
The PC market in the US continues to grow as it appears many people have accepted a future that includes hybrid work, according to the latest quarterly report from market research firm Canalys.
In the second quarter of 2021, the PC market grew 17% year over year, with a total of 36.8 million shipments, according to Canalys. Notebooks saw the most growth, up 27% year over year, followed by desktop computers, which were up 23%. Tablet shipments were largely flat for the quarter, with a 1% decrease.
While demand for computers has slowed since the height of the pandemic, Canalys said, there's "massive refresh potential" as companies solidify long-term strategies to support hybrid work and schools make computers an essential part of the classroom.
"The commercial and education segments have exploded, triggering tremendous refresh potential," said Brian Lynch, a research analyst at Canalys, in a release. "Whether it be work, school or leisure at home, PCs are in users' hands more than ever."
HP led the PC market with a nearly 22% share and over 8 million devices shipped in the second quarter. Apple snagged the second spot, but was actually down 3% overall in the quarter due to "iPad demand tailing off," Canalys said. Apple had more success with notebooks, growing 24% year over year in that segment, likely due to the success of the M1 chip.