That is why the only two consumer groups still purchasing PCs are gamers and high-income professionals. The technology swept the market by storm, causing a significant decline in personal computer sales of all kinds. Robust desktop PCs are still key for business enterprises and government institutions all over the world, as smartphones and tablets are not yet able to match their power. As early as 2015, 13.5% of the world’s population owned a tablet. For seven years in a row, PC sales (laptops included) have been on the decline as consumers do more and more of their computing with smartphones and tablets. The PC industry faces a number of challenges. The laptop market’s continued expansion is due to the ever-spreading internet grid, rising disposable incomes, swelling global population, and increasing interest among consumers, especially outside Europe and North America.

Unit shipments are projected to rise at a CAGR of 1% to be registered during the same period. Companies like Toshiba, MSI, Microsoft, and Samsung also rank high, accounting for a combined 13% of global laptop market share in 2017. According to a study conducted by Grand View Research, global laptop sales are estimated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of just 0.4% through 2025. The market was dominated by six large PC manufacturers: HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple, ASUS, and Acer. Global laptop sales totaled $101.7 billion in 2017, with 161.6 million units shipped worldwide. The laptop market is very narrow, with the three top vendors accounting for 60% of unit shipments. Unless you’ve wandered into an Apple store, of course. Walk into a tech store anywhere and you’ll see the same five or six laptop brands on the shelves.

Windows vs mac market share