Global notebook shipments are expected to come to 236 million units in 2021, once again setting a new record in history. However, the year-over-year growth will fall short of the prior year level but will still be in the two-digit range.
Taiwan's notebook shipments only grew 2.7% sequentially in the second quarter of 2021, as component short supply was worse than expected. The volumes were up 8.6% on year in the quarter.
Digitimes Research saw the supply-demand gaps for notebook panels, IC chips and processors all exceed 10% in the second quarter of 2021, and will see improvement in some components in the third quarter of 2021.
Global notebook shipments not including devices with detachable keyboards went down only 8.7% sequentially in the first quarter of 2021 as demand for education and gaming models remained robust and previously unfulfilled orders were delivered.
Global notebook shipments, excluding detachable models, surged over 10% sequentially to hit a fresh high of 60 million units in fourth-quarter 2020, mainly driven by robust demand for remote work and study amid the worsening pandemic woes, year-end e-commerce promotion campaigns and government subsidies to consumers.
Taiwan's third-quarter 2020 notebook shipments grew 4.3% sequentially and picked up 31.3% on year to arrive at 44.46 million units, a new high since the second quarter of 2012.
According to Digitimes Research's observations, 2020 global tablet shipments will show flat growth from the 2019 level as the COVID-19 pandemic spurs explosive stay-at-home demand. With unfilled demand for tablets gradually satisfied and a high comparison base in 2020, tablet shipments in 2021 will decelerate and drop 10.5% on year.
Notebook shipments are expected to grow over 20% on year in 2020 thanks to demand from stay-at-home activities in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
