Sales of laptops have soared due to COVID-19, as students and workers have to work from home. — VNA Photo

Demand for laptops has risen significantly as students and employees are studying and working at home due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Parents in HCM City and other provinces have said that while they had previously been content with having only one laptop to share or have their children use smartphones, they now have had to buy additional laptops for their children’s studies.

Sales of laptops at national chain Mobile World saw an 80 per cent increase in the first two months of the year compared to the same period in 2019. Students and office workers make up the largest demographic, with office workers accounting for around 60 per cent of the customers.

Hoang Van Dung, head of FPT Shop’s laptop product line, said that sales of laptops in March were 150 per cent higher than the beginning of the year because of at-home work and study.

Le Tri Cong, director of Tri Cong Informatics Commerce and Service Co, Ltd, said that sales of desktops and used laptops have also increased, as parents are buying cheap, used laptops for their children.

Several businesses are supplying laptops to their employees so they can work at home, such as Neilson Viet Nam and Unilever Viet Nam.

Many retailers said that certain laptop brands are at risk of being under-stocked since demand is rising, but supply is being hampered by COVID-19. Some retailers’ stock has decreased by 20-30 per cent, and they are struggling to restock.

Despite the higher demand, prices of laptops have remained relatively stable, and many retailers are offering promotions such as discounts and free installation of programmes. — VNS