Global PC Shipments Up 4.4% in Second Quarter of 2025
Overall Growth Fueled by Increased Tariff-Driven Inventory in the U.S. and Windows 11 Desktop Upgrades; Laptop Shipments Boosted by AI-Ready Refreshes
> By Rishi Padhi, Research Principal at Gartner
The global personal computer (PC) industry recorded a resurgence in the second quarter of 2025, with total shipments surpassing 63 million units. This represents a 4.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024, signalling a measured but meaningful rebound for a market that has grappled with fluctuating demand since the pandemic-driven boom. The uptick marks a stabilizing phase for the sector, especially as enterprise investments help offset a cooling in consumer enthusiasm.
Enterprise Demand Drives Market Momentum
The underlying force behind the growth in Q2 was a clear divergence between enterprise and consumer behavior. Corporate procurement outpaced personal purchases, largely fueled by ongoing migrations to Windows 11 and the natural replacement of desktop systems originally acquired during the pandemic. In contrast, consumer interest waned, with many individuals choosing to delay upgrades amid uncertain economic conditions and less compelling reasons to refresh devices. This contrast in behaviour created a lopsided demand curve that continues to shape shipment dynamics globally.
Outlook for 2025: A Tale of Two Halves
Projections for the full year remain cautiously optimistic, with global PC shipments expected to rise by 2.4% in 2025. The first half of the year benefited from front-loaded purchases in the U.S., as buyers sought to circumvent upcoming tariffs by accelerating imports. This inventory buildup, combined with Windows 11 upgrade cycles across other geographies, laid a strong foundation for early-year momentum.
However, the second half of 2025 is likely to be marked by shipment moderation. Vendors will focus on depleting elevated inventory levels, potentially leading to an oversupply situation if consumer and business demand softens further by the end of the year.
Regional Markets Reflect Varied Recovery Patterns
Geographically, market trends diverged significantly. North America experienced a marginal decline of 0.5% year-over-year in PC shipments during the second quarter, reflecting cautious spending and inventory normalization.
In Asia-Pacific, shipments held steady compared to the previous year, a welcome pause after several quarters of contraction, hinting at a potential bottoming out. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region emerged as a relative bright spot, growing 5.3% year-over-year, driven by seasonal purchasing activity and a resurgence in enterprise desktop upgrades. Nevertheless, even in regions showing signs of strength, the anticipated surge in new hardware acquisitions has been tepid. Many organizations continue to favor in-place upgrades to Windows 11 over full hardware replacements, tempering the pace of true market expansion.
Vendor Landscape Remains Stable with Lenovo in the Lead
The global PC vendor hierarchy remained largely unchanged during the second quarter, with the top five players holding their respective positions. Among them, Lenovo distinguished itself with the highest year-over-year growth, posting a 13.9% increase in global shipments. This performance underscores the company’s ability to leverage scale, operational efficiency, and a diverse product portfolio to navigate a still-fragmented recovery. The other leading vendors maintained steady volumes, indicating that while market conditions are improving incrementally, competitive dynamics remain tight and largely static at the top.
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