Worldwide combined shipments of devices like PCs, tablets, ultra mobiles and mobile phones are projected to reach 2.4 billion units in 2014, a 4.2 percent increase from 2013, according to Gartner. The research firm further stated that 321 million tablets and will ship worldwide, up from 256 million in 2014.
“2014 will be marked by a relative revival of the global PC market. Business upgrades from Windows XP and the general business replacement cycle will lessen the downward trend, especially in Western Europe. This year, we anticipate nearly 60 million professional PC replacements in mature markets”
said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner.
Gartner has predicted that the PC market that comprises of desktop, notebook and premium ultra mobile will decline by 2.9 percent year-on-year in 2014, as opposed to the 9.5 percent drop between 2012 and 2013. Giving insights about mobile phone sales, Gartner touted that mobile phone will grow from more than 1.8 billion in 2014 to more than 1.9 billion next year. Smartphones will increasingly make up the bulk of mobile phone shipments, accounting for 88 percent of all mobile phone sales worldwide by 2018, up from 66 percent this year, the analysts said.
In the operating system (OS) market, Android and iOS are driving the growth with a 30 percent and 15 percent increase, respectively, in 2014. Atwal concluded saying that “The next wave of adoption will be driven by lower price points rather than superior functionality”
Finally talking about the status of Windows phone next year, Annette Zimmermann, Research Director, Gartner said
We expect the announcement of the new Apple iPhone 6 will attract pent-up demand for users who want a larger screen.Windows phones will exhibit strong growth from a low base in 2014, and are projected to reach a 10 percent market share by 2018 — up from 4 percent in 2014
PC shipments have declined over last year where tablets are getting heavy demand due to features like portability, lightweight and affordable prices.