The computers apple mac, thanks to the use of its own ARM-based processors, seemed to be holding up in a context in which hardware sales do not stop falling. However, and seeing the trend of not preferring to spend money on hardware in recent times, the giant of the bitten apple has begun to be affected, and also in a marked way.
According to IDC data, Apple shipped a total of 6.9 million Mac computers during the first quarter of 2022 and captured 8.6% of the market share. Just one year later, that is, taking the data from the first quarter of 2023, Mac shipments fell 40%, with a total of 4.1 million units shipped, leaving Apple with a 7.2% share. Other manufacturers such as Dell, HP and Lenovo have also seen their shipments reduced, but according to the analyst it is Apple that has taken the worst part this time.
Within the turbulent economic context in which we have lived for some time, everything seems to indicate that the main factor affecting shipments of Mac computers is the bursting of the bubble of the COVID-19 pandemic. We remember that the forced confinement to which a large part of the population was subjected encouraged many to renew equipment, so many people no longer have the need to acquire a new one because they already have a recent one.
Another factor that can be added to the drop in demand is inflation that has reduced the purchasing power of the majority of the population, which obviously does not encourage investments such as the purchase of new equipment, especially considering that it was possibly renewed. during the pandemic and that the hardware has long been overpowered in the x86 spectrum. It’s not for nothing that Microsoft is recommending upgrading a new PC to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 11.
The last factor that could have contributed to the decrease in shipments of Mac computers is the little contribution of the Apple M2 processor compared to the previous one, at least for consumers. While the Apple M1 was seen at the time as a revolution, which helped to raise sales considerably thanks to a combination of autonomy and power superior to that of its competitors, the second version of the SoC was not seen, together with the others. factors mentioned, such as a sufficient contribution to maintain the pace of sales.
The latest news around Mac computers points to a future MacBook Air that would be released (or at least introduced) this year and possibly make use of the Apple M3. Aside from improving power, Apple will have to manage so that its future computers regain the interest of consumers in a context in which the mass market is depressed.
