FRAMINGHAM, MA – The worldwide market for PC monitors saw a year-over-year decline of 2.2% in the second quarter, with shipment volume totaling over 30 million units, according to International Data Corp. Although the market shrank, the results exceeded IDC’s forecast and surpassed first quarter volume.

Factors affecting results included continued adoption of larger models, relatively strong shipments in the first quarter that left some inventory, and a premium focus on gaming and curved displays. Windows 10 migration in the commercial PC space and international trade tensions also played a factor.

"Outside of Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), the PC monitor market was otherwise healthy in the second quarter," said Jay Chou, research manager, Personal Computing Device Tracker. "Commercial replacements and upgrades into larger screens continue to drive the narrative, though the shift toward notebooks in the biggest region, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), and a slowdown in China has wrought some challenges."

IDC expects 122 million PC monitors will ship in 2019, a year-over-year decline of 1%. Nonetheless, this is a raised outlook compared to earlier forecasts. IDC expects a sizable volume drop-off in 2020 after this year's spate of commercial renewals. Furthermore, amid a long-term sluggish PC market outlook, the firm expects the PC monitor market to see a compound annual growth rate of -2.9% between 2018-2023.

Curved monitors grew 44.7% year-over-year in the second quarter, with both consumer and commercial markets increasingly receptive to the still niche but growing part of the display landscape.

Though 21.5" is the most popular screen size currently, bigger screens are expected to grow, and IDC expects 23.8"-wide monitors to take the top position by 2023.

Monitors with IPS panels took half the volume in the second quarter, the first time it has reached 50% of the market. TN panels remained the second most popular panel but has seen more competition from VA panels, which gamers increasingly are moving toward.

Dell retained the top position, with worldwide market share of 21.4% on shipments of over 6.4 million units and outpaced the market with growth of 1.1%, largely thanks to solid results in North America and Western Europe.

HP saw more than 4.5 million units shipped for the number two position, but shipments declined 1.9% year-over-year. Strong shipments into Western Europe in the first quarter affected second quarter results.

TPV experienced the strongest year-over-year growth (8.9%) out of the top five vendors. The company had strong showings in nearly all regions, especially in North America.

Lenovo maintained the fourth position, posting a decline of 5.8% year-over-year, with just over 3 million units shipped. Market conditions in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) proved challenging, but the firm performed well in North America, Western Europe, and Japan.

LG Electronics rounded out the top five in the second quarter with 2.5 million units shipped, a decline of 3.3%.

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