The Indian PC market has experienced a promising resurgence in 2024, showcasing a remarkable year-over-year (YoY) growth of 3.8%. This development, as revealed in a report by market research firm IDC, highlights notable achievements by several key players and outlines the market dynamics influencing this upward trend.
In 2024, India’s PC shipments reached an impressive total of 14.4 million units, underscoring a burgeoning demand that spans desktops, notebooks, and workstations. HP emerged as the dominant player, capturing a substantial 30.1% of the market share. Lenovo and Dell followed closely, securing second and third positions with 17.2% and 16.1% market shares, respectively. Meanwhile, Acer and Asus rounded out the top five, reflecting a diversified competitive landscape.
The growth trajectory is significantly bolstered by a robust demand from the public sector and the increasing popularity of gaming and artificial intelligence (AI) powered PCs. Such diversification in demand sources reflects a shifting consumer preference, stretching beyond traditional use cases towards more sophisticated computing needs.
The year saw a marked improvement in the performance of various PC segments. Not surprisingly, notebooks led the charge with a remarkable 4.5% growth YoY, while desktop shipments saw a more modest increase of 1.8%. Notably, workstations exhibited unparalleled growth, boasting an impressive 10.9% increase. Such differentiated performance among segments indicates varying consumer appetites and utilization patterns, with portable solutions clearly on the rise.
In the final quarter of 2024, the overall market growth surged by 6.9% YoY, heavily influenced by the 9.6% increase in notebook shipments. Furthermore, premium notebooks, a niche catering to discerning consumers, saw an exceptional growth rate of 13.8%, emphasizing the increasing value consumers place on high-performance devices capable of supporting advanced applications.
A closer look at consumer and commercial segments reveals intriguing trends in market behavior. On the consumer front, HP’s dominance slipped slightly with a decline of 7.5% YoY in its consumer segment, which can be attributed to intensified competition, particularly in online retail channels. Conversely, Lenovo gained traction in both consumer and commercial sectors, exhibiting a consistent growth of 7% in consumer sales and 7.4% in the commercial segment.
Acer’s performance stood out dramatically, showcasing the highest growth rate among the top vendors at 48.4% YoY in the consumer sector. This surge was fueled by aggressive pricing strategies, promotional discounts, and a solid push through eTailer channels, indicating a shift where strategic pricing and distribution play critical roles in capturing market share.
As the market evolves, experts like IDC’s Bharath Shenoy emphasize that the upward trend has been significantly driven by the advent of gaming and AI PCs. With AI-powered notebooks gaining substantial traction, the demand for these devices is likely to continue its upward trajectory. Moreover, as enterprise and government sectors reported growth of 10.6% YoY, it is evident that institutional investments are playing an essential part in propelling the overall market forward.
Looking ahead, IDC’s Navkendar Singh suggests that the anticipated renewal of devices purchased between 2020 and 2021 could lead to a significant influx of replacement orders. However, potential challenges lurk on the horizon, notably the weakening rupee which could increase device costs, particularly impacting price-sensitive small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and consumers.
While 2024 marks a significant recovery for India’s PC market, the landscape is nuanced with both promising growth opportunities and potential challenges. Stakeholders must navigate a competitive environment characterized by changing consumer preferences, economic fluctuations, and the pressing need for innovation. As the market stands on the brink of further evolutions, adaptive strategies and a keen understanding of dynamics will be paramount for sustained growth and leadership in this vibrant sector.
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