Third-quarter global server shipments only increased 8.5% from the prior quarter due to some ICs and components being in worse shortage than the others.

Global notebook shipments in the third quarter performed better than expected in July. The volumes rose 3.1% sequentially and reached more than 62 million units, the second highest level ever.

Global tablet shipments started to decline due to the component shortage. In 2022, with the component shortage easing, global tablet shipments are projected to increase 1.3% from the 2021 level.

With COVID-19 becoming like the seasonal flu and having diminishing influence, Digitimes Research expects smartphone shipments to grow between 4-7% annually over the next five years, driven by smartphone users upgrading to 5G phones and feature phone users switching to low-cost smartphones in emerging markets.

Despite global economy already on track for gradual recovery as the pandemic continues to ease, the pandemic-induced imbalance between semiconductor supply and demand has not yet subsided.

Aside from Europe, China and the US, Digitimes Research believes India's EV industry also has great development potential.

Although global notebook demand will decelerate in 2022 and 2023, their shipments will regain momentum starting 2024, while the global smartphone market is expected to enjoy shipment growth every year from 2022-2026. Global tablet shipments will see a moderate growth in 2021, but will shrink in each of the next five years starting 2022.

Unisoc has become an alternative source of smartphone AP supply for Chinese smartphone brands.