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| The demand for computers will only decrease in 2022 |
Hardware industry executives and analysts said: In 2020, global demand for laptops and desktop computers has reached its highest level since the iPhone was launched in 2007.
With distance learning and work disrupting the PC market during the coronavirus pandemic, manufacturers are months away from completing repeated orders.
This has led to an increase in smartphone sales and increased interest in larger devices, which have become an afterthought for iPhones and Android devices over the past decade.
"The entire supply chain has never been strained," said Greg Prendergast, operations manager for hardware manufacturer Acer (Acer) in North America, Central America and South America.
Global annual shipments of computers (laptops and desktops) exceeded 300 million in 2008 and recently decreased to 250 million.
Some analysts now expect shipments to reach around 300 million by 2020, up about 15% from the previous year.
According to research firm Canalys, tablet computers are growing faster. The number of computers and tablets in use will reach 1.77 billion by the end of 2021, up from 1.64 billion in 2019.
Analysts said: With many factories closed due to the Coronavirus, components such as displays and processors are difficult to obtain.
Some computers launched in the coming months may meet new requirements.
Analysts said they have better cameras and speakers for video conferencing, and more models include cellular chips that allow users to access 4G or 5G networks instead of traditional wireless networks.
Sam Board, a senior executive at computer maker Dell, said this month that a renaissance of the industry could soon bring artificial intelligence devices to make things like plugging in and off cameras easier.
Dell customer online orders increased 62% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year.