Apple Mac Shipments Drop in Q1 2023 Amid Contracting Consumer Demand for Computers

The computer market continues to suffer major downturns, with no manufacturer being spared from recording declines in shipments.

Credit: Apple

Apple in particular saw a significant decline in worldwide Mac shipments, falling 40.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023, according to data from marketing intelligence group IDC. The Cupertino giant also shipped 2.8 million fewer devices year-over-year during the same period. These figures played a factor in Apple losing worldwide computer market share between the first quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, dropping from 8.6% to 7.2%.

Other big players in the industry like Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo similarly suffered from double-digit declines in worldwide computer shipments, though Apple's is the most significant.

The less-than-stellar shipment figures underscore the contracting consumer demand for computers as rising inflation, among other factors, rock an already turbulent economy. IDC estimates that worldwide computer shipments fell between as much as 29% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023.

At least for Apple, the decline likely didn't come as a surprise. Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri in February said the company was expecting Mac and iPad sales to fall compared to the same period last year.

Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. Credit: Reuters

"The preliminary results also represented a coda to the era of COVID-driven demand and at least a temporary return to pre-COVID patterns," said IDC.

"Even with heavy discounting, channels and PC makers can expect elevated inventory to persist into the middle of the year and potentially into the third quarter," it added.

The research group expects shipments to pick back up by year-end, noting how manufacturers can use this period of downturn to work on their plans and iron out supply chain issues.

Apple is scheduled to post its earnings for the first quarter of the year on 4 May.

---

• Apple saw a significant decline in worldwide Mac shipments, falling 40.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023.

• Other big players in the industry like Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo similarly suffered from double-digit declines in worldwide computer shipments, though Apple's is the most significant.

• The less-than-stellar shipment figures underscore the contracting consumer demand for computers as rising inflation, among other factors, rock an already turbulent economy.