Both notebook and workstation PC categories faced similarly large drops, with notebook shipments down 37 per cent to 8.1 million units and desktop shipments declining 35 per cent to 1.9 million units.
The tablet market performed comparatively better, with shipments down 20 per cent year-on-year to 5.2 million units. The latest Canalys forecast anticipates PC and tablet shipments to Western Europe will fall 9 per cent and 12 per cent respectively for the full year 2023.
The analyst firm predicts both device category markets are on the road to recovery and are expected to show sequential growth for the remainder of 2023 and accelerated improvement in 2024.
Kieren Jessop, research analyst, Canalys, explained, “Western Europe’s PC market faced another large decline in Q1 2023 but there are positive signals that the region is past the worst. Although the consumer segment suffered a large year-on-year decline, the sequential drop after the holiday season was less drastic than in recent years.
“Consumer confidence levels in the EU have been rising for several months now, but inflation remains a drag on PC spending in the short-term. However, positive impacts from inventory level corrections and planned promotional activities will see the segment make a modest recovery by the end of the year.
“On the commercial side, businesses are facing economic pressures that are limiting their immediate willingness to invest in their PC fleets. However, ensuring employees are outfitted with suitable PCs to maintain productivity will be crucial to organisations, especially as remote and hybrid workstyles continue to gain traction.”
A recent Canalys poll of EMEA channel partners found that a majority (57 per cent) believe their DaaS revenue will grow in 2023. Only 12 per cent of channel partners in EMEA are forecasting a year-on-year decline.