Game machines, slim units pace notebook sales

Gaming and ultra-slim notebooks with new application uses are driving growth in the consumer notebook market for the first time in six years in Thailand, says a computer industry analyst.

This year Thailand’s consumer notebook segment has grown in volume after contracting 3% annually since 2012, said Takon Niyomthai, business unit manager of Lenovo Group.

The market is projected to grow by 5-8% to 700,000 units this year, he said.

The growth in value of consumer notebooks should reach 10%, or 10.4 billion baht (based on an average price of US$450 or 14,744 baht), up from 5-6% the past three years. The growth is because of higher average selling prices for notebooks in the gaming and two-in-one segments.

The average sales price increased to 30,000 baht recently, compared with 18,000-19,000 baht for traditional notebooks.

Mr Takon attributed the growth to the new segment of sub-gaming notebooks in the 24,000-26,000 baht range, compared with gaming notebook prices of over 30,000 baht last year.

Gaming notebooks are expected to account for 25% of the total of 700,000 notebooks sold in 2018, up from 10% last year, he said.

Ultra-slim notebooks and multi-mode/convertible notebooks have gained momentum as more Windows-based devices support Android apps, leading to more varieties of usage. Stylus or pen-based notebooks also make the devices smarter, Mr Takon said.

Lenovo is selling IdeaPad for gaming and Yoga as a premium convertible notebook.

“At Commart Work next month, gaming activities and sales promotions will occupy 40% of total space, compared with 20% last time,” said Pornchai Jantarasupasang, director of IT and digital media business at ARIP, the organiser of Thailand’s largest computer trade show, Commart.

The event takes place Nov 1-4 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. This is the last Commart event to be held at QSNCC before its renovation.

Working with Garena for the first time, the event will arrange a special area for adult gamers, including active users aged 50-60. It also plans an e-sports Asia competition in the Omen Challenger Series.

There are new computer brands for lifestyle users from Hong Kong targeted at younger groups, Mr Pornchai said.

“This event will reflect a broader group of computer buyers, ranging from teenagers to seniors,” he said.

The four-day event is expected to achieve 3 billion baht in sales.