Tablet, Chromebook Demand Expected to Slow Post-2021: IDC

Global tablet shipments are expected to grow 1.8% in 2021, after “the stellar double-digit growth in 2020,” reaching 166.5 million units “as consumer demand remains high,” reported IDC Tuesday. Chromebook shipments are expected to grow 33.5% in 2021 to 43.4 million. The need for budget-friendly, yet versatile devices for hybrid working and learning “will be paramount and this will continue to drive demand for these devices” this year, said analyst Anuroopa Nataraj: “Beyond 2021 both categories will continue to struggle as consumer and education demand is expected to slow. With the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, consumers will begin to increase spend on travel and other modes of entertainment, which in turn will impact growth in these devices.”