Samsung ends Europe laptop push after poor sales

Long-rumoured exit from portables market 'for now' confirmed due to poor market conditions

Samsung has today confirmed its plans to exit the laptop market – including sales of Chromebook devices – across Europe.

The vendor provided a statement to ChannelWeb that clarifies the several versions of the plan that have circulated in the news media.

"In Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of laptops including Chromebooks for now. This is specific to the region and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets," it reads.

The unnamed Samsung spokesperson went on to indicate that the move is in direct response to market conditions.

"We quickly adapt to market needs and demands," the statement said. "We will continue to thoroughly evaluate market conditions and will make further adjustments to maintain our competitiveness in emerging PC categories."

The confirmation follows a report on Tuesday that the Korean vendor would end attempts to sell its Windows-based Ativ ultrabooks as well as Chromebooks in Europe – effectively representing a laptop pullout.

"Main recent releases included the Ativ Book 9 Plus and Ativ Book 9 Lite," according to the story in PC Advisor, whose reporter went on to note that Samsung had appeared fairly idle in the laptop market of late.

The Korean chaebol exited entry-level notebooks in Europe earlier this year.

And Samsung said in March 2013 that it was discontinuing sales of Windows RT-based Ativ tablets, which had not been performing well in the region.

Windows-based tablets from other vendors have also proven less than stellar performers when it comes to European sales.

Yet market watcher Gartner has said that the observed general decline of the PC market, including laptops – where Samsung is only following the likes of Sony out the door – might in fact inject fresh force into Chromebook sales as a whole.