Global shipments of devices, including PCs, tablets and smartphones, will grow at a 1.9 percent clip this year over last, but overall spending will decline for the first time, according to market researcher Gartner.
The forecast highlights what is likely to be a rough year for computing devices. Markets have matured and largely stagnated. As a result, companies need new strategies for both mature and emerging markets, said Gartner.
The PC market in particular is expected to slip 1 percent in terms of units this year but increase 4 percent in 2017.
![gartner2016.png](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/95283e522e98bb3fa657c904a68407e5344c0f29/hub/2016/01/20/807e84c9-ef78-44a5-acfb-d24fec29d03e/gartner2016.png?auto=webp&width=1200)
Gartner
Windows 10 and two-in-one hybrid devices will drive future growth, Gartner said. In addition, Gartner expects companies to upgrade to Windows 10 at a faster clip than previous releases of the operating system.
Mobile phone shipments will increase 2.6 percent this year, Gartner predicts, but overall spending will decline. Smartphones will represent 82 percent of all mobile phone shipments in 2016.
This story originally posted as “Global device growth expected to be anemic in 2016, says Gartner” on ZDNet.