Apple’s U.S. PC shipments decline more than overall market if you don’t count iPads but do count Windows tablets

Gartner is today out with a report detailing its estimates for Q2 2013 global and U.S. PC shipments. Globally, the industry average for shipments is down 10.9%. This is the fifth consecutive decline for this specific metric.

“We are seeing the PC market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets,” said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. “In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who at best are deferring the purchase of a PC. This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market.”

Gartner doesn’t specify Apple’s estimated numbers in the first table, but does pin the company up against other computer makers in terms of U.S.-based shipments. As can be seen in the table (above), Apple’s estimated shipments are down 4.3% from the year-ago-quarter, putting them in third place. This -4.3% number is also worse than the U.S declining average of 1.4%.

However, that is not necessary bad news for Apple. Gartner says that these PC shipment numbers include Windows 8 tablets, but not Apple’s iPads. Like we’ve seen in previous quarters where Mac numbers were down, iPad sales are crushing estimates. After all, Microsoft is the one now hitting Apple in TV ads over tablets.

Apple reports its Q3 results on July 23rd.