# Global Mac Shipments Drop Despite PC Market Expansion
Recent market analysis indicates a notable decrease in global Mac shipments, which dropped by 17.5% year-on-year in the previous quarter. This fall stands in stark contrast to the overall stability seen in the wider PC market, where total shipments have remained largely unchanged.
## PC Market Maintains Growth
As per estimates from Canalys, the global PC market saw a slight increase of 1.3% year-on-year in Q3, with total shipments hitting 66.4 million units. This growth is largely due to a rise in laptop sales, which climbed by 2.8% to 53.5 million units. Conversely, desktop shipments experienced a decline of 4.6%, totaling 12.9 million units.
Despite this modest growth, there are encouraging signs indicating a rebound in the PC sector. Analysts anticipate ongoing growth, particularly driven by businesses. Many companies are upgrading their Windows machines in anticipation of the forthcoming end of Windows 10 support by Microsoft, urging businesses to either update their systems or face hefty expenses for extended support.
## Mac Shipments Decline Before M4 Debut
In stark contrast to the broader PC market, Mac shipments fell from 6.2 million units in Q3 2023 to merely 5.1 million units in the same quarter this year. This decrease led to a drop in Apple’s market share from 9.5% to 7.7%.
Industry analysts propose that this decline may be a result of consumer waiting for the upcoming M4 Macs. Apple is anticipated to announce its M4 lineup imminently, with the first announcements expected later this month. The new models, which include updates to the iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, are projected to spark significant consumer interest, although actual shipping of these devices is not expected until November 1st.
### Expected Features of M4 Macs
The forthcoming M4 Mac mini is rumored to feature a major redesign, shrinking to a form factor similar to that of an Apple TV box. Additionally, leaks regarding the M4 MacBook Pro suggest that the base model will see a considerable performance enhancement, coming with a 10-core CPU (compared to the current 8-core), 16GB of memory, and an increase in Thunderbolt ports from two to three.
Recent reports have even emerged of unannounced M4 MacBook Pro models being listed for sale on a Russian classified ads website, further intensifying speculation about their imminent launch.
## Conclusion
The current state of the global PC market presents a mixed outlook. While the overall market exhibits signs of growth, Apple’s Mac segment is facing a significant decline, likely influenced by consumer expectations for new product announcements. As Apple gears up to unveil its M4 lineup, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact its market standing and sales performance in the upcoming quarters.
