Apple takes title as world’s No. 1 computer-maker

Apple takes title as world’s No. 1 computer-maker

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All of these are computers, and all contributed to Apple’s share of the global computer market.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple shipped more computers in the first three months of 2022 than any of its rivals, according to a market research firm. Increasing Mac sales helped Apple take the top spot away from Lenovo in the global market for laptops, desktops and tablets.

Apple could have done even better but supply constraints cut into the number of iPads it was able to ship.

Apple is the world’s largest computer maker

These results might confuse those accustomed to seeing Apple in fourth place in the world PC market, but that’s true only if laptops and desktops are counted while tablets are excluded. The market researchers at Canalys do include tablets in their count, which pushes Apple up to the top spot.

Apple’s total shipments in the first quarter of 2022 reached 22.3 million, according to Canalys. That’s up 1.1% from the same period of 2021.

Mac shipments grew in the March quarter, according to multiple analysis firms, including IDC. But iPad shipments dropped. Apple has struggled to get enough chips to make its tablets.

Lenovo and HP see steep declines in Q1 2022

Speaking of dropping, Lenovo’s total shipments last quarter declined 12.2%, while HP’s plunged 17.6%.

Apple trailed Lenovo in the global market for laptops, desktops and tablets in 2021, and might have done the same at the start of 2022 except for the drop in shipments from the Chinese company.

In the March quarter, Lenovo shipped 21.1 million computers while HP shipped 15.9 million.