Get All Access for $5/mo

PC Market Slumps to Lowest Point Since 2011 Two-in-ones were a bright spot in the market, but Q1 shipments of all other categories were 'weak,' Canalys says.

By Angela Moscaritolo

This story originally appeared on PCMag

Bloomberg | Getty Images

A note to PC vendors: Now would be a good time to bring some innovation to the market, because things are not going great.

According to new data from Canalys, the PC market continued its downward slide in the first quarter of the year as total shipment volumes fell to their lowest point since 2011. Worldwide PC shipments -- including desktops, notebooks, tablets, and 2-in-1 tablets -- totaled 101 million units during the period, a 13 percent year-on-year dip, the research firm said.

Since the data includes tablets, Apple held onto its spot at the top of the market with shipments of more than 14 million units, despite falling 17 percent, Canalys reported. Lenovo was a close second, shipping 25,000 fewer units than Apple, though its decline "moved into double digits on the back of weakening sales in Greater China." HP came in third, followed by Dell and Samsung; check out the chart below.

On a positive note, 2-in-1s were a bright spot in the market, growing more than 13 percent. Shipments of all other categories, meanwhile, were "weak." Demand for tablets was especially low, with shipments falling around 15 percent to less than 39 million units.

In a statement, Canalys Senior Analyst Tim Coulling said the number of people looking to buy their first PC "is at an all-time low" and this year is likely to bring more hardship to PC vendors around the world.

"The global PC market had a bad start to 2016 and it is difficult to see any bright spots for vendors in the coming quarters," Coulling said. "The tablet boom has faded in the distance and the market is fully mature."

Unless vendors step up their game and "bring transformational innovation to the market," global shipment declines are expected to continue, he added.

Angela Moscaritolo has been a PCMag reporter since January 2012. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Management

Why Business Owners Should Mix Strategy with Hands-On Involvement

Conventional wisdom says to work on the business, not in the business. That sounds like good advice, but is there more to it? Yes, and finding the balance is key to entrepreneurial success.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

You Need an Advisory Team More Than Ever. Here's Why — and How to Run One Effectively.

The right advice, particularly in a company's early stages, can be an existential matter: how to surround yourself with the right minds.