Apple is expected to host another event next month or in November to launch the new M4 Pro and M4 Max Macs, and ahead of the official unveiling, the company's Mac shipments have become stagnant in the past quarter. With the company's market share slightly declining, we can expect the upcoming Macs with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips to give the shipments a boost.
Mac shipments and Apple's market share down ahead of the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro refresh, the redesigned Mac mini could bring the numbers up
A new report from Canalys suggests that Mac shipments have become flat in the previous quarter, with the company's market share slightly declining year-over-year. There is a plausible reason why users have kept their hands in their pockets at this time, as the company aims to introduce new upgraded models in the last quarter of this year. Currently, the company is selling the M3 versions of the Mac, but the next upgrade could bring significant performance gains to the lineup, which is why users prefer to wait.
In contrast, the PC industry saw a 4 percent growth to 18.9 million units in the second quarter of this year. Notebook demand saw an annual growth of 5 percent, which is a remarkable feat for the category. The research firm describes the second quarter as a strong one for the PC industry, with the enterprise sector leading the way.
“With IT spending ramping up, large enterprise PC refresh is well underway, with shipments to the segment growing 12% in the latest quarter,” said Canalys Analyst Greg Davis. “While growth for consumer and SMBs was not as high, both segments still finished the quarter with healthy increases of 3% and 6% respectively.”
As for the Mac, shipments were more or less unchanged compared to last year, with 2.31 million units sold in Q2 2023 and 2.322 million units sold during the same quarter of 2024. This leads the company's market share to slightly see a decline from 12.7 percent to 12.3 percent.
While the numbers show unimpressive performance from Apple when we draw an annual comparison, the forthcoming M4 upgrade will likely boost sales and market share. Ahead of upgrades every year, the company's shipments drop as users wait for better-performing chips. Apple introduced the M3 chips last year, and we expect the company to launch the M4 Pro and M4 Max Macs in the same month.
We are expecting the company to launch the 14-inch and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro models alongside a redesigned Mac mini, which will significantly feature a slimmer and smaller profile than the current version. Possibly, the new Mac mini with M4 chips could bring the company the shipments it has lost in the third quarter. However, the final word rests with Apple and how users perceive the new product upgrades, so do take the news with a grain of salt.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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