Apple Surpassed 10% Share of Notebook Market in 2015 Amid Industry Decline

[MacRumors]

The latest data from research firm TrendForce shows that MacBook sales continue to gain momentum in an otherwise declining notebook market. Apple passed Asus and Acer to become the fourth-largest notebook maker in 2015, reaching 10.34 percent market share compared to 9.3 percent market share in 2014. Overall notebook shipments in 2015 were 164.4 million, down 6.3 percent from 175.5 million in 2014.

HP and Lenovo continued to lead the notebook industry in 2015 with around 20% market share each, but Apple is now within striking distance of Dell for third place. The comparison is unbalanced, however, as Apple only sells three different MacBook models, with the cheapest being the entry-level 11-inch MacBook Air for $899, while most PC makers have a wide selection of models and price points.

"HP and Lenovo will still be rivaling for the top spot in the notebook market during 2016," said TrendForce notebook analyst Anita Wang. "HP has a good chance of holding the most market share this year and maintaining its leadership position because of the relatively stronger U.S. market. Dell will likely retain third place in the notebook shipment ranking for this year. As for ASUS, Apple and Acer, their struggle for the fourth, fifth and sixth positions in the 2016 ranking will be fierce since they have similar market shares of just around 10%."

These numbers mirror overall PC market data shared by Gartner last month. Apple made it back into Gartner's list of top 5 worldwide PC vendors in the fourth quarter of 2015, although the company remains behind Asus with a lower 7.5% market share when factoring in desktop and other non-notebook PC sales. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 75.7 million units in Q4 2015, an 8.3 percent decline.

Apple is expected to introduce new Skylake-based Mac notebooks featuring Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C later this year. Intel has announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and 12" MacBook over the past year.

Opportunities for major product introductions could come at WWDC, likely scheduled for mid-June, although smaller updates could come at any time via press release. New Macs could also debut at Apple's rumored March 15 media event if there is enough stage time alongside the iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3, and Apple Watch updates.

Article Link: Apple Surpassed 10% Share of Notebook Market in 2015 Amid Industry Decline

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

The strategy works well.

 

[AyeGear]

Holding out for a rev B 12" rMB or a Macbook Air refresh with retina screen - i'm guessing this will only increase with this years refresh on the notebook line

 

[brendu]

This isn't surprising. They make among the best laptops available.

 

[barnesy99]

This isn't surprising. They make among the best laptops available.

 

[npmacuser5]

New MacBook for me last year, works great.

 

[melendezest]

Good to see Apple gain market share here.

There's still no (real) replacement for a Mac portable out there that is not a Mac portable.

That said, the uptick puts Apple in the position of not really updating/redesigning anything; these things sell themselves, so it'll probably be same-old same-old.

Here's to hoping for a 17" MBP (unlikely), thinner bezels and better screens throughout (especially on the Air), bigger storage options, USB-C/TB3 ports throughout their line (more than one, please), and no loss of current features (also unlikely).

 

[gsmornot]

Seems right. If I'm not on my Mac I'm on my HP. HP is my work machine so I have little choice but for the times between I prefer my Mac for everything else.

 

[gramtrax]

Ugh, those story intro graphics are cruel. Everytime I see one I think "yay!" Apple has finally gotten off their %$# and updated their notebook line.

 

[djcerla]

Still, there is huge room for growth.

A generation raised with iPods, Macbooks and iPhones is only starting to reach decisional power in businesses; these people know very well how cheap is a Mac vs. a PC in the long run.

A paradigm shift is well underway, mostly undetected by incumbents.

 

[Petey-Pete]

Imagine if apple actually focused on improving its macbook line-up, the way it does with the iPhone. Apple would be the top computer vendor.

 

[sza]

Still, there is huge room for growth.

A generation raised with iPods, Macbooks and iPhones is only starting to reach decisional power in businesses; these people know very well how cheap is a Mac vs. a PC in the long run.

A paradigm shift is well underway, mostly undetected by incumbents.

Unless Apple announces $599 laptops...

 

[rjohnstone]

Still, there is huge room for growth.

A generation raised with iPods, Macbooks and iPhones is only starting to reach decisional power in businesses; these people know very well how cheap is a Mac vs. a PC in the long run.

A paradigm shift is well underway, mostly undetected by incumbents.

There's still a HUGE business software gap on the Mac side.

At my company, we don't buy cheap PC hardware (HP, ASUS, Acer), we buy the best and most reliable hardware on the market.
Right now that is the Lenovo ThinkPad T series line of laptops.
MacBooks have nice hardware, but limitations in business software for OS X still relegate them to niche departments.
Mainly marketing and media.

 

[nicho]

Unless Apple announces $599 laptops...

why would that change what he said?

 

[skinned66]

All hail the hipster hotspot latte contingent!

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Imagine if apple actually focused on improving its macbook line-up, the way it does with the iPhone. Apple would be the top computer vendor.

I would love that if they did (if the same amount of effort went into the MacBooks as it does into the iPhones)--but with the notebook market declining steadily for several years, it seems unlikely.

 

[Roykor]

Why would you even care if Apple is on the fourth or the fifth place in selling laptops world wide? I never see the news value on such "look, look, Apple (or a other brand) is awesome, check these statistics" items on macrumors. Maybe its because i like my iMac, but not worshipping the brand (in the end all they want is my money...+ a little bit more money if possible)

With new skylakes up-comming, others are coming too with new laptops (Powered with nVidia gpu's) so i think nothing exciting will happen. Even laptops looking almost the same as en Macbook. That maybe could even hurt Apple sales.

But than again... i am not caring so much if brand A sells more than brand B.

 

[satchmo]

Perfect time to step on the gas pedal and double down with new MBP's.

Although I can't see this happening until WWDC, maybe throw us a revised MB at the rumoured March event.

 

[MacRazySwe]

Now imagine if Apple actually revised their laptop lines a bit more often than every four (4!) years.

MacBooks are unquestionably the best all round laptop money can buy, but Apple should be able to do so much more. Bringing out a redesign seems to be such a big feat for Apple, while HP, Dell and Lenovo release improved designs ever (second?) year. Considering their resources, Apple should have been first to implement Skylake, new designs, Infinity-displays, 18-hour battery life, 4K, et.c. Touch-ID should have been implemented in the laptops a long, long time ago.

Seriously, my rMBP is great, but seeing what Dell did with the XPS 13" design (I'm not mentioning quality, haha), Apple should have been able to bring something better to the table than the 12" rMB.

Don't see why this has to wait til' WWDC, just finish the Skylake MacBooks and release them already. Sure an event would be more fun, but we've waited long enough.

 

[MI MacGuy]

Apple has never really cared or tried to be a market leader when it comes to notebooks. Their audience is more loyal than other consumers. No need to chase after numbers. iPhone and iPad devices help push buyers into Macs as well since the ecosystem is so connected. You seriously cannot beat Handoff at this point.

Frustration with Windows from consumers is helping their numbers too. Windows 8/8.1 did Microsoft no favors and Windows 10, while an improvement, is still far from finished. It's a stability nightmare, even on brand new PCs. The only other competitor that existed in a DISTANT third was Chrome OS and Google seems to have all but abandoned that platform until it decides how to merge it with Android.

They desperately need to get the MacBook Pro (and Air if they choose to keep it, which I doubt) line updated. I know it's very close but it's still months behind. That Intel relationship has to be bending like never before. I, for one, welcome Apple's own chipsets for laptops.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I feel that, as great as this news is, the numbers are probably misleading in that apple laptops last much longer than their PC counterparts. This skews this percentage.

 

[AustinIllini]

This isn't surprising. You have three real options for your notebook. One is the worst, most bloated, and most targeted OS, another is a web browser with little third party App support, and the third is a built for specific hardware OS which is less heavily targeted and more responsibly managed with minimal bloatware.

If Macs were less expensive, Windows would be in a lot more trouble.

 

[Mildredop]

This isn't surprising. They make among the best laptops available.

I'm not an Apple fan and ditched iPhone, Apple TV and my Airport many years ago. But no matter how hard I look, nothing beats the Mac.

I tried a Chromebook which was one of the oddest experiences I've had.

And I've looked long and hard at Windows laptops for years but, apart from having to switch to Windows, there doesn't seem to be a Windows PC that is as well built, attractive and such good value for money. To get a Macbook and some 'essential' software (word processing, video editing, spreadsheet work) works out cheaper and better than an equivalent PC.

 

[cwt1nospam]

MacBooks have nice hardware, but limitations in business software for OS X still relegate them to niche departments.
Mainly marketing and media.

The "business" market is where computer makers go to die. Apple is right not to focus on it. They should continue to take what sales they get in it, but concentrate on other, profitable markets.

 

[spaceballl]

Not bad - now about that new MacBook Pro.....