Global notebook shipments will grow by 0.9% year-on-year in the second half of 2018, Digitimes Research estimates. A return to single-digit growth is predicted for the fourth quarter of 2018 as well. 38.12 million units were shipped in the second quarter, representing flat growth.
The release of Apple’s new entry-level MacBooks and low-priced gaming notebooks will drive growth in the second half of the year, Digitimes says.
Digitimes surmises that HP will hold its position as worldwide brand market leader in the second half of the year, with Lenovo, Dell, Apple rounding out the top-four. Asus and Acer will battle for fifth place during the fourth quarter of 2018. The ongoing trade war between the US and China will see manufacturers shift their export focus to European markets, analysts say.
Among OEMs, Compal will remain number-one in the second half of 2018 thanks to orders from US vendors, followed by Quanta Computer, buoyed by shipments to Apple.
