Asia dominates the global market for PCs and smartphones, driven by its vast population of 4.6 billion. In 2024, Asian consumers are expected to spend close to $325 billion on these devices, accounting for 47% of the global total and outpacing combined spending by Americans and Europeans by $100 billion. Over the past five years, the gap is even wider.
According to data from Stocklytics, since 2019, Asians have spent almost $2 trillion on smartphones and PCs—half a trillion dollars more than Europe and North America combined.
Smartphones Dominate Spending
While Asia leads in overall sales, the split between smartphones and PCs reveals a clear trend. A Statista Market Insights survey shows that smartphones have contributed $1.4 trillion, or 70%, of Asia’s total device spending since 2019. In contrast, PC sales reached $547 billion in the same period, reflecting the region’s growing preference for mobile technology.
This disparity is unsurprising, given Asia’s rapidly expanding smartphone markets in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asia, where smartphones are more accessible than PCs. While PC sales are growing—particularly in emerging markets like India and Indonesia—smartphones remain the dominant force.
In mature markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea, consumers buy higher-end PCs, while in emerging economies, entry-level systems are driving growth. Rising demand from the middle class and expanding sectors like education and small businesses are fueling the PC market. Between 2019 and 2024, annual PC sales have increased by $11 billion, reaching $92 billion, while smartphone sales have seen a decline of $18 billion, down to $231 billion.
Projected Growth
Despite the recent drop in smartphone sales, the outlook remains strong. By 2028, Asians are expected to spend an additional $1.7 trillion on smartphones and PCs, with most of that growth coming from smartphones. Annual smartphone sales in Asia are projected to rise by 23%, reaching $287 billion by 2028, contributing to a total spend of $1.32 trillion in the next four years.
PC sales will also continue to grow, though at a slower pace, with projected total spending of around $400 billion by 2028. Asia is expected to account for 48% of global spending on PCs and smartphones over the next four years, significantly outpacing Europe and the United States, which are forecast to account for 17% and 15% of global spending, respectively.
