Briefly: Worry, uncertainty, and tariffs are threatening to negatively have an effect on the PC market within the subsequent few months. A latest report highlights the trials and tribulations of the PC enterprise, portraying a unending adjustment effort in response to rapidly shifting enterprise situations and Donald Trump’s actions.
Counterpoint Analysis’s preliminary knowledge present that PC shipments grew 8.4 p.c year-over-year in the course of the second quarter of 2025. The market skilled the very best yearly improve since 2022, when the pandemic had a major impact on client demand for brand new {hardware} and PC techniques. Nevertheless, issues are way more advanced and chaotic as we speak.
Main components behind the newest development in PC shipments embrace the rapidly approaching finish of official Home windows 10 assist, early adopters of AI PC techniques, and business demand brought on by Trump’s tariffs. Many OEMs at the moment are deeply of their “wait-and-see” method to enterprise, CR stated, as a result of the brand new US administration retains utilizing import tariffs as a looming risk towards your entire world.
The rise in shipments was particularly pushed by the business phase of the market, with giant enterprises and public organizations upgrading their PC fleets primarily based on Home windows 10. Home windows 11’s reputation is lastly surging 4 years after the OS debuted, simply as Microsoft stops supporting the previous system in October 2025. In the meantime, the buyer phase confirmed blended alerts with extra reasonable development.
Counterpoint’s knowledge exhibits Lenovo as the present chief within the PC enterprise, with 25 p.c of complete quarterly shipments and a 15 p.c development in comparison with the earlier yr. US producers HP and Dell are in second and third locations with 20.9 p.c and 14.5 p.c of the market, respectively, although solely the previous skilled development (5 p.c) whereas the latter misplaced a few share factors.
Apple is in fourth place with 8.9 p.c of the market and a 13 p.c YoY development, which CR attributes to “strong” MacBook gross sales due to the newest M4 collection. Asus, which shipped 6.8 p.c of the techniques in the course of the quarter, skilled the biggest development (18 p.c) among the many main international PC producers.
In keeping with Counterpoint Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang, uncertainty associated to Trump’s tariffs will doubtless trigger weaker PC cargo outcomes in the course of the second half of 2025. Because of the rising demand for AI PCs and different components, the market ought to present a lot better leads to 2026. Half of the laptops shipped subsequent yr and onward will probably be AI-enabled techniques, which is broadly anticipated.
One other important shift within the PC market will doubtless be associated to geopolitics and logistics. The manufacturing enterprise continues to be closely targeted on China, however PC distributors, authentic design producers, and suppliers of electronics manufacturing companies are making a serious effort to deliver their manufacturing capabilities to different nations. Vietnam, India, and Mexico are the most probably options to China, although Trump’s unpredictable method may negatively have an effect on these markets sooner or later.
