Global notebook shipments, not including detachable models, performed stronger than DIGITIMES Research initially expected in the second quarter of 2023, up 20.9% sequentially and down only 5.5% on year, shrinking dramatically from those of the past several quarters. Still, the volumes are only expected to stay flat in the third quarter and dip a single-digit percentage in the fourth quarter, according to DIGITIMES Research's latest figures from the notebooks report database.
The sequential growth in the second quarter is contributed primarily by robust orders from the education procurement segment and the price-cut promotions launched by brand vendors with assistance from CPU makers. However, the quarterly performance in the second half is unlikely to be as strong as in the second quarter as most consumers should have already made their purchases in the second quarter when the price cuts were at their fiercest while increasing costs for the education models and brand vendors turning conservative with the release of new notebooks are also expected to create negative influences.
The global top-6 brands will see mixed shipment performances in the third quarter. The top brand Hewlett-Packard (HP) will experience a sequential shipment decline in the third quarter due to the high comparison base in the second quarter. Lenovo's inventory was largely digested with its price-cut promotions in the second quarter and the Chinese brand is expected to enjoy a small sequential growth in third-quarter shipments with the potential recovery of Europe and China, Lenovo's key markets, DIGITIMES Research's figures show.
Dell, in third place, expects demand from Europe's and North America's education sector to rebound in the third quarter and has been keen on planning new products. Apple's notebooks powered by its in-house developed next-generation M3 processor will not become available in 2023. Lacking products that can significantly attract consumers to purchase, Apple's shipments in the third quarter are expected to dip slightly from a quarter ago. Asustek Computer will see a minor increase in its third-quarter shipments with keen promotions on its inexpensive and high-end gaming models.
Major Taiwanese ODMs' shipments in the third quarter are also expected to stay flat from a quarter ago. Compal Electronics and Wistron are expected to see rising shipment share with Dell's order ramp-ups in the quarter.
