Chromebook Shipments to Increase by Nearly 30%
An estimated 2.1 million Chromebooks shipped in 2013, with nearly 89% of total shipments reaching North America, according to ABI Research. As Chromebook shipments expand globally, ABI Research forecasts an increase of CAGR 28% to 11 million in 2019.
“ABI Research tracked Chromebooks across six regions and found the average selling price (ASP) to be $338,” said Stephanie Van Vactor, research analyst. “This truly budget-driven device is a disruptive force to the portable PC market.”
The ASP and shipment growth of Chromebooks shows the market responding to products for the budget conscious, a reaction from a slowly reviving economy along with interest from the education business vertical.
Beyond Chromebooks, ABI Research found that the broader portable PC market is continuing its struggle to regain market growth. The ultraportable segment, which is powered by the Windows 8 operating system and includes the versatile 2-in-1 configurations, saw minimal growth during the fourth quarter of 2013, even with the holiday season. ABI Research also saw the ASP of ultraportables decline in 2013 by 7.4% year-over-year. ASPs are expected to continue to decline through 2019 as competition for share of wallet from mobile devices and other form-factors continues.
Looking ahead, cost, connectivity, and greater reliance on cloud services are expected to be driving forces in growth for ultraportable PCs. Chromebooks have the potential to change the market and consumers are still undecided but nonetheless intrigued.
“There are many events that can shift the market in 2014, including the EOL of Windows XP, the adoption of Chromebooks, and a stronger focus on web and cloud services,” said Jeff Orr, senior practice director. “How consumers and business audiences respond to these changes will impact the trajectory of the market.”
For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.
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