At the beginning of 2023, Canalys Research announced the key trends that will emerge in the PC, smartphone and technology industries in 2023. These include 5G personal computer and tablet shipments will grow 25%; 60% of smartphone shipments will come from 5G phones; 15% of laptop shipments will use ARM architecture; Asia will enter the “Indian decade”; consumers will drive car companies to the circular economy and so on.
Image source Unsplash
5G PC and Tablet Shipments to Grow 25% in 2023
Overall shipments of PCs and tablets with 5G connectivity surged to 24% in the third quarter of 2022, up from 2% a year ago. Overall networked PCs will grow slightly by 4% in Q3 2022, with 5G adoption in PCs seeing a significant uptick. In 2023, this trend will further accelerate as 5G infrastructure improves, manufacturers increase their product types, and operators increase support.
PC makers have stepped into the field. At the same time, Intel, MediaTek and Qualcomm have successively laid out design and marketing roadmaps for 5G-enabled devices. In 2022, major telecom operators will also substantially increase the types of 5G products. For example, AT&T and Verizon will start selling 5G notebooks and tablets in the United States. Continued carrier adoption will be a key factor in the growth of networked PCs through 2023.
The advent of remote and hybrid work means mobile-connected devices will be the preferred choice for employees when it comes to updating their devices. Employers also need to find the ideal solution to the security threats posed by public and unsecured Wi-Fi networks. This development trend also allows 5G personal computers to usher in more business opportunities in 2023 and beyond.
60% of smartphone shipments will come from 5G phones in 2023
5G is stuck in 2022. Facing macroeconomic weakness and high inflation, consumer demand for smartphones has shifted from 5G to more practical aspects such as battery life, storage, processor speed and camera quality. In addition, 5G network deployment has stalled, and many operators have begun to make structural adjustments, shifting their focus from 5G construction to expanding their user base and maintaining financial stability.
But that will change in 2023. The overall macroeconomic situation is picking up, and the global economy is expected to recover. Operators will be more aggressive than ever in promoting 5G deployment and expanding the 5G user base. The report shows that among smartphone manufacturers, Samsung and Apple will lead the 5G mobile phone market.
The average selling price of 5G handsets is expected to drop, bringing 5G to the mass market. Especially in price-sensitive developing country markets, will be the core driving factor to boost sales.
15% of laptop shipments will use ARM architecture in 2023
This compares to 10% in 2022 and only 2% in 2020. Apple began the transition to its own chips, making an important contribution to this growth. It is expected that in 2023, ARM architecture shipments will continue to be dominated by Apple.
Canalys predicts that from next year, the application of this architecture in Windows devices is expected to accelerate. Recent devices from Lenovo and HP have highlighted the advantages of ARM-based PCs, such as longer battery life, optional 5G/LTE networks, and thinner and lighter designs. These functions better cater to consumer usage behavior after the epidemic, such as higher frequency, longer usage time, and wider usage locations.
Since Microsoft and Qualcomm have significantly improved the user experience and application compatibility of ARM-based Windows, this has helped attract more PC manufacturers to join, providing more room for manufacturers to expand their categories.
Asia will enter the “India Decade”
Despite the deteriorating global economy, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain growth in 2023. Currently, ASEAN and India are the two fastest growing major economies in the region. India now has a population of 1.41 billion and is growing in size. Some international technology companies are starting to set their sights on India.
But India also faces many challenges, such as bureaucracy, infrastructure and climate change. If India wants to grow into a real powerhouse, it needs more time, effort and resources. But India has also sent many positive signals, such as the government’s high emphasis on manufacturing; the growing number of highly skilled young labor force;
Consumers will drive automakers towards a circular economy
At CES 2023, sustainable development and the promotion of circular economy have become key topics discussed by car companies. In the future, consumers will pay more and more attention to selling points such as recyclable materials and zero emissions in the process of purchasing cars.
The automotive industry must keep automotive raw materials in circulation as much as possible given the average vehicle lifespan of more than 12 to 15 years. This is a challenge automakers have been grappling with in recent years; automakers and supply chains have set targets to use 100% sustainable materials in their vehicles and comply with international recycling standards.
The global car and light commercial vehicle population is expected to exceed 1.3 billion by early 2023. Therefore, the application of recycled materials increases, the lightweight of vehicle structures, new production methods, electrification, software definition and common platforms for new vehicles remain very important. It will take many years to replace current conventional vehicles that lack the above features, especially in tough environments.
Global light vehicle sales are expected to peak in 2017, and it will be difficult to even return to pre-epidemic levels in the next three years.
