Research group predicts that global laptop sales will rebound in 2024

This could be good news for the Mac: after disappointing sales in the third quarter, the TrendForce research group is predicting that global laptop sales will rebound in 2024.

While the rest of 2023 may not see great sales, TrendForce says “the tech horizon looks promising” for 2024.. As market inventories align with healthier metrics and anticipated inflationary pressures begin to stabilize, global notebook shipments are poised for a potential rebound. Still, it’s not all roses. 

“With the global consumer environment still feeling the pinch, even as demand gradually ticks up, the market hasn’t flashed strong bullish signs just yet,” notes the research group. “TrendForce projects an annual growth rate hovering between 2–5% for 2024, pushing shipments slightly above pre-pandemic levels. Post inventory adjustments, the broader market is set for a gentle recovery. However, all eyes remain on the twin giants of consumer markets—China and the US—to gauge if we can indeed anticipate a more robust shipment surge.”

As for Mac laptops, a DigiTimes report that says Apple will release new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with more power-efficient mini-LED displays this year. However, the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) doesn’t think we’ll see revamped versions of those laptops until mid-2024. The only updated Mac I’m expecting this year is a 24-inch Mac with an M3 processor. 

Still, here’s what DigiTimes says: Apple is expected to ship new models of 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro devices in the fourth quarter of 2023 with miniLED backlighting that can increase the display brightness by 10% compared to the first-generation specifications, the sources said.

Apple has not made major changes to the miniLED backlighting specifications since adopting it for its tablets and notebooks, the sources said. But the upcoming MacBook Pro devices will feature miniLEDs that are 10% brighter than the previous ones without changing the number of miniLED chips in the backlighting module, the sources said. The brightness enhancement is not meant to improve picture quality, but rather to save power and improve battery life, the sources said, adding that the new devices will start shipping in the fourth quarter of 2023.