The notebook market will face unfavorable conditions in 2019 on both the supply side and demand side. Total shipments may dip further below the level seen in 2018.
According to Digitimes Research statistics, as large-size smartphones continue to erode sales of 9-inch and smaller tablets, especially white-box tablets that are generally smaller, global tablet shipments will further slide.
This DIGITIMES Special Report provides insights into various aspects of the smartphone AP market, including suppliers' shipments, market shares, manufacturing processes, and the incorporating of AI in the processors.
Taiwan's handset shipments decreased 27.8% sequentially, but went up 17.5% on year to arrive at 17.8 million units in the first quarter of 2018. The sequential decline was mainly due to seasonality.
Taiwan makers' notebook shipments in the first quarter of 2018 performed weaker than originally expected, slipping 17.1% sequentially and 7.4% on year to reach only 27.07 million units.
According to Digitimes Research statistics, global tablet shipments hit an all-time low in first-quarter 2018, totaling 33 million units, down 28.2% on quarter and 14.9% on year.
Taiwan's handset shipments grew significantly in 2017 because of strong orders from HMD Global for Nokia-branded devices. HMD's manufacturing partner, Foxconn, benefited most.
Worldwide notebook shipments, not including detachable 2-in-1 devices, were weaker than expected and arrived at only around 41.15 million units in the fourth quarter of 2017, registering their first on-year decline after four consecutive quarters of on-year growths. However, Digitimes Research expects worldwide notebook shipments to return to the on-year growth trend in the first quarter of 2018, fueled by new Chromebooks, the China gaming market, and recovery of enterprise demand.
