Apple Now Top Mobile PC Manufacturer, Takes Lead Position From HP

Apple is at the top of yet another market share list; this time, it’s mobile PCs, which includes both tablets and notebooks. According to DisplaySearch’s Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment And Forecast Report, the Cupertino company shipped 13.6 million units in Q2 2011, far outpacing second-place HP’s 9.7 million. Year-over-year, that represents 136% growth for Apple in the mobile PC space.

Dell (7.5 million shipments), Acer Group (7 million), and Lenovo (4.8 million) round out the top five spots. In terms of percentages, Apple’s 21.1% market share is almost double that of Dell (11.6%) and Acer Group (10.9%), and nearly thrice Lenovo’s share of 7.5%.

The report indicates that 80% of Apple’s shipments were iPads, which isn’t terribly surprising, and it’s indicative of how tablets are gobbling up the mobile computing space at the expense of notebooks. Compared to the first quarter of 2011, tablet shipments surged 70% in Q2, and compared to this time last year, they’re up a whopping 400%. (Even without the iPad inflating the numbers, tablets still enjoyed 25% growth year-over-year.)

At the same time, overall notebook shipments are comparatively stagnating, with just 2% growth year-over-year and actually a 2% decline quarter-to-quarter.

Richard Shim, Senior Analyst for DisplaySearch, said in the press release, “Preliminary results show a second consecutive quarter of Y/Y shipment growth rate decline [in the notebook PC category]. While part of the Y/Y decline can be attributed to a strong first half of 2010, the rising tablet PC shipment growth rate begins to point to notebook PC shipment cannibalization.”


Apple Retakes Top Mobile PC Market Share Position from HP in Q2’11
Tablet PC Shipments Fuel Apple’s 136% Y/Y Mobile PC Growth; Lead on HP Nearly 4 Million Units

SANTA CLARA, CALIF., August 18, 2011—Apple shipped over 13.5 million mobile PCs in Q2’11 for 136% Y/Y shipment growth, overtaking HP for the top spot, according to preliminary results from the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report. Nearly 80% of Apple’s mobile PC shipments were iPads, which reached over 10.7 million units, for 107% Y/Y growth. Apple’s total mobile PC shipments (notebook and tablet PCs) were 3.9 million units more than HP’s nearly 9.7 million units for the quarter.

From a category perspective, tablet PCs continue to be the engine of growth for the mobile PC industry. Tablet PC shipments were up nearly 70% Q/Q and over 400% Y/Y with nearly 16.4 million units shipped in Q2’11. Notebook PC shipments were down 2% Q/Q but up 2% Y/Y with nearly 48 million units shipped in Q2’11. A consumer notebook PC adoption slowdown continues to hold back the industry following a 2% Y/Y drop in shipments in Q1’11. Worldwide mobile PC shipments (including notebook and tablet PCs) reached 64.4 million in Q2’11, up 10% Q/Q and 28% Y/Y. Among the top five players, Acer experienced the largest decline in shipment growth. Acer’s shipment growth declined in Q2’11, falling 4% Q/Q and 12% Y/Y.

In the notebook PC category, Samsung and Dell had the fastest shipment growth, up 44% and 33% Y/Y, respectively. Dell was also up Q/Q with 27% shipment growth, as it continues to take advantage of a rebound in commercial market PC shipments. Samsung’s shipments fell 16% Q/Q as it was unable to build off of strong shipment results in EMEA and China. Still Samsung was able to top Q1’11 shipment levels in North America and Asia Pacific.

“Preliminary results show a second consecutive quarter of Y/Y shipment growth rate decline,” said Richard Shim, Senior Analyst for DisplaySearch. “While part of the Y/Y decline can be attributed to a strong first half of 2010, the rising tablet PC shipment growth rate begins to point to notebook PC shipment cannibalization.”
Tablet PC shipment results show that even after removing Apple from growth rate calculations, worldwide Y/Y tablet PC shipment growth reached 25%, and shipments of non-Apple tablets reached over 5.6 million

The DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report covers the entire range of mobile PC products shipped worldwide and regionally. With analysis of global and regional brands, the Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Reportprovides an objective, expert view of the market with insight into historical shipments, revenues, forecasts and more. For more information about the report, please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mailcontact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan or more information.