Mac Shipments Remain Steady in Q1 2018 Amid Continuing Worldwide PC Decline

[MacRumors]

Amid a continuing decline in worldwide PC shipments, Apple's Mac sales have remained steady in the first quarter of 2018, according to new PC shipping estimates shared this afternoon by Gartner.

Apple shipped an estimated 4.26 million Macs during the first quarter of 2018, up from 4.2 million Macs in the year-ago quarter, marking 1.5 percent growth.

Apple's market share for the quarter comes in at 6.9 percent, up from 6.7 percent in Q1 2017. Apple was ranked as the number four PC vendor worldwide during the quarter, coming in after HP, Lenovo, and Dell, and ahead of Asus and Acer. Apple was ranked the number five vendor during the same quarter last year, but this year, it surpassed Asus.

Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q18 (Thousands of Units)​

Most vendors saw shipments remain steady during the quarter. HP, the number one worldwide PC vendor, shipped 12.9 million PCs during the quarter for 20.8 percent market share, while Lenovo, a close competitor, shipped 12.4 million for 20 percent market share. Dell came in third with 9.9 million shipments and 16 percent market share, while Asus and Acer brought up the rear with 3.9 and 3.8 million shipments, respectively.

The overall worldwide PC market, however, declined 1.4 percent year over year. In total, there were an estimated 61.7 million PC shipments during the quarter, down from 62.6 million in the year-ago quarter and the 14th consecutive quarter of decline.

Apple saw less growth in the United States. During Q1 2018, Apple shipped an estimated 1.49 million Macs, a 0.5 percent increase from the 1.48 million Macs it shipped in the year-ago quarter. Apple was also ranked the number four PC vendor in the U.S., trailing behind Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

Gartner's Preliminary U.S. Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q18 (Thousands of Units)
​

Dell was the top U.S. PC vendor 3.44 million shipments, while HP shipped 3.35 million machines and Lenovo shipped 1.63 million. The overall PC market in the U.S. saw a 2.9 percent decline compared to Q1 2017.

Apple's Market Share Trend: 1Q06-1Q18 (Gartner)​

IDC also released its own shipment estimates this afternoon, and as is often the case, IDC's shipping estimates are quite a bit different from Gartner's. IDC and Gartner's data often varies due to the different ways each firm makes its shipment calculations.

The IDC numbers suggest overall worldwide PC shipments remained flat, with 60.38 million PCs shipped during Q1 2018, down just slightly from 60.39 million in the year-ago quarter.

IDC says Apple was the number five worldwide PC vendor with just 4 million Macs shipped, a 4.8 percent decline from the 4.2 million shipped in the year-ago quarter. While Gartner ranks Apple above Acer, IDC does not.

It's important to note that data from Gartner and IDC is preliminary and the numbers can shift, sometimes dramatically and sometimes less so. Last year, for example, Gartner estimated shipments of 4.217 million Macs in Q1 2017, while the actual number was 4.199 million.

It's been several months since Apple last refreshed the bulk of its Mac lineup, with the exception of the iMac Pro, so it's not surprising to see little growth in shipments. Apple is expected to introduce refreshed MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac models at some point this year, perhaps at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Article Link: Mac Shipments Remain Steady in Q1 2018 Amid Continuing Worldwide PC Decline

 

[bladerunner2000]

Imagine the sales if they had a good computer to sell.... hoo boy!

 

[-BigMac-]

How do those stats make sense? 61.7 million p/quarter? So that is around maybe 240million a year pcs shipped a year..

World population is 7 billion, taking into account poverty and third world countries.. lets say there are 4 billion people worldwide capable of using a PC.

4 billion/240 million.. thats 1 in 20.

So normal upgrade cycle is one in 20 years? Doesnt add up.

Not to mention out of those 4 billion, lots of people have several computers.

I for one, have a company computer at work too.. thus bringing the amount even higher..

I certainly upgrade my computer more frequently than once every ~20 years..

These stats seem to suggest there is 100 million PC users worldwide..

 

[npmacuser5]

Imagine how good sales of MacOS systems would be if they did not try and push everyone to the iPad, including Education.

 

[pika2000]

Now let's consider the ASP of those PC OEMs vs Apple, and no wonder everybody hates Apple but wants to become Apple.

 

[blacktape242]

that bottom graph is very telling in the Tim Cook era...

 

[martyjmclean]

Imagine how good sales of MacOS systems would be if they did not try and push everyone to the iPad, including Education.

Not substantially higher. The majority of the consumer, education market has moved from traditional computers to tablets and mobiles. Its 2018, not 2008.

 

[npmacuser5]

Not substantially higher. The majority of the consumer, education market has moved from traditional computers to tablets and mobiles. Its 2018, not 2008.

Beg to differ, 60% of Education using ChromeOS. That would be laptops.

 

[nvmls]

As long as dongles sold keep raising to their eyes it's a success.

 

[Pangalactic]

Image the sales if they had a good computer to sell.... hoo boy!

Yeah, their performance for $2000 laptops is just ridiculous.

Written from a surface book 2 with a gtx1050, 16 gigs of DDR4 Ram and 15 hours of battery life.


Seriously wishing Apple would stop chasing stupid thinness and touchbar gimmicks and would actually make something that doesn't run 2012 components in 2018.

 

[martyjmclean]

Beg to differ, 60% of Education using ChromeOS. That would be laptops.

Because they're dirt cheap. 60% of Education? Where? America isn't the only country in the world.

 

[Williesleg]

Do those numbers include servers? Because I'll tell you, there are a lot of servers being sold this year. And Apple's share is zero. Such a shame.

 

[lcseds]

IDC is reporting Apple's market share at 6.6% not 6.9%. It also reports Apple sales dropped 7.7% not a 1.5% increase compared to same quarter 2017. I guess it's all about how you want the data interpreted and where you want to get data from.

 

[CWallace]

Image the sales if they had a good computer to sell.... hoo boy!

Apple sells around 1-2 million more Macs a year now then they did during the "Glory Years" of the early 2010s when you could upgrade them at will like a PC, so I would guess sales would be at best pretty similar.

Do those numbers include servers? Because I'll tell you, there are a lot of servers being sold this year. And Apple's share is zero. Such a shame.

They do not.

But even when Apple did offer the Macintosh Server and Xserve they were a rounding error in global PC server sales.

 

[Haswell]

Image the sales if they had a good computer to sell.... hoo boy!

What are you talking about? The iMac Pro is a great computer and it's only $4,999.

 

[dogslobber]

Now let's consider the ASP of those PC OEMs vs Apple, and no wonder everybody hates Apple but wants to become Apple.

Agree. I'm assuming Apple would top the ASP table as volume is irrelevant compared to ASP.

 

[npmacuser5]

Because they're dirt cheap. 60% of Education? Where? America isn't the only country in the world.

True, the US now dominated by ChroneOS for price and essentially zero IT involment. Now Sweden just converted to ChromeOS and has the U.K. I would expect that trend to continue. Apple needed an education MacOS, classrooms need keyboards and no less then track pads. Mouse actually preferred. Apple chose to focus on iPad, at the expense of MacOS my point, will see how it works out.

 

[citysnaps]

Imagine how good sales of MacOS systems would be if they did not try and push everyone to the iPad, including Education.

How is everyone, or you, being pushed? Did you get a notice from Apple?

 

[femike]

Apple doesn't have a good range of MacOS machines. There is no up to date headless Mac, just 3 year old machines selling for the same release price. All-in-ones are expensive and wasteful, and many people are not interested in buying them. As for laptops. the Pro models are flawed and out of price range, the Air is old, there is no 17 in. Time Cook is not interested in MacOS machines.

Also, abandoning AA batteries in keyboards and mouses was a mistake. I understand though that there is more profit to be made in have non-replaceable batteries in them instead.

 

[bladerunner2000]

What are you talking about? The iMac Pro is great computer and it's only $4,999.

LOL!

I wonder if anyone at Apple really cares about that kind of embarrassing product.

 

[npmacuser5]

How is everyone, or you, being pushed? Did you get a notice from Apple?

What do you call advertising? Pushing products high on advertising agenda. The iPad is a computer, hidden message, clearly replaces MacOS for many. So yes, one walks into an Apple store with the idea that a $700 iPad will completely replace a $1,200 Mac. One less sale, actually many, negatively impacts MacOS sales. Apple clearly heavily pushing iPads and exclusively in the education market. “What is a computer”.

 

[ActionableMango]

How do those stats make sense? 61.7 million p/quarter? So that is around maybe 240million a year pcs shipped a year..

World population is 7 billion, taking into account poverty and third world countries.. lets say there are 4 billion people worldwide capable of using a PC.

4 billion/240 million.. thats 1 in 20.

So normal upgrade cycle is one in 20 years? Doesnt add up.

Not to mention out of those 4 billion, lots of people have several computers.

I for one, have a company computer at work too.. thus bringing the amount even higher..

I certainly upgrade my computer more frequently than once every ~20 years..

These stats seem to suggest there is 100 million PC users worldwide..

Three problems with your numbers:

1. You've assumed 4 billion PC users worldwide when most estimates put it between 1.5 to 2 billion.
2. Whenever I get a new PC or Mac, I sell my old one. I have also bought a couple of used Macs. So with people buying and selling used computers, there are an unknown number of PC upgrade cycles that are not reflected in new PC sales statistics.
3. Many people also assemble their new computers from parts. I have done this far more often than I've bought a complete PC. Third-party-assembled computers aren't reflected in new PC sales.

 

[dirt_farmer]

LOL single digit marketshare.

 

[robjulo]

Cite? I suspect you are very, very wrong.

Not substantially higher. The majority of the consumer, education market has moved from traditional computers to tablets and mobiles. Its 2018, not 2008.

 

[-BigMac-]

Three problems with your numbers:

1. You've assumed 4 billion PC users worldwide when most estimates put it between 1.5 to 2 billion.
2. Whenever I get a new PC or Mac, I sell my old one. I have also bought a couple of used Macs. So with people buying and selling used computers, there are an unknown number of PC upgrade cycles that are not reflected in new PC sales statistics.
3. Many people also assemble their new computers from parts. I have done this far more often than I've bought a complete PC. Third-party-assembled computers aren't reflected in new PC sales.

I agree haha I did assume a lot, and you bring up valid points