Global PC sales are increasing, but growth is limited. Gartner here points the finger at consumers and businesses who did not upgrade to Windows 11 last year, but also at AI PCs which are not yet generating the desired enthusiasm.
In the last quarter of 2024, 64.4 million PCs were sold worldwide, 1.4 percent more than in the corresponding quarter of 2023. On an annual basis, this represents 245.3 million devices, representing growth of 1.3 percent. Gartner notes that the number of devices is below 250 million for the second year in a row.
This is still growth, but the analyst emphasizes that the market offered more potential. “Despite high expectations for the influx of AI PCs and the expected innovation of Windows 11, the global PC market saw limited growth in the fourth quarter,” says Ranjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner. ‘For consumers, the price of AI PCs constitutes an obstacle to strong progress. At the same time, economic uncertainties in certain regions, such as China and parts of Europe, are limiting growth.’
Atwal expects solid growth this year. Windows 10 support will end in October this year. PC owners who cannot run Windows 11 will likely purchase a new device. At the same time, the added value of AI PCs will become clearer, he says.
In pure numbers, Lenovo remained the market leader in the fourth quarter of 2024 with 26.3 percent market share, followed by HP Inc which serves 21.3 percent of the market. The entire top six remains unchanged and is rounded out by Dell, Apple, Asus and Acer.
Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q24 (Thousands of Units)
-| Company | 4Q24 Shipments | 4Q24 Market Share (%) | 4Q23 Shipments | 4Q23 Market Share (%) | 4Q24-4Q23 Growth (%) |
| Lenovo | 16,960 | 26.3 | 16,279 | 25.6 | 4.2 |
| HP Inc. | 13,724 | 21.3 | 13,962 | 22.0 | -1.7 |
| Dell | 9,970 | 15.5 | 9,983 | 15.7 | -0.1 |
| Apple | 6,280 | 9.8 | 6,004 | 9.4 | 4.6 |
| ASUS | 4,757 | 7.4 | 4,334 | 6.8 | 9.8 |
| Acer | 4,131 | 6.4 | 3,989 | 6.3 | 3.6 |
| Others | 8,578 | 13,3 | 8,991 | 14.1 | -4.6 |
| Total | 64,400 | 100.0 | 63,541 | 100.0 | 1.4 |
Notes: Data includes desktop and laptop PCs that are equipped with Windows, macOS and Chrome OS. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (January 2025)
On an annual basis, we observe the same order and comparable market figures. Acer takes the largest market share with 6.5 percent, mainly thanks to a strong fourth quarter in which the company recorded twenty percent growth. Lenovo, for its part, recorded an increase of 4.5 percent, which constitutes the second strongest growth. Dell (-2 percent) and smaller brands (-3.4 percent) are especially losing market share.
Preliminary US PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q24 (Thousands of Units)
| Company | 4Q24 Shipments | 4Q24 Market Share (%) | 4Q23 Shipments | 4Q23 Market Share (%) | 4Q24-4Q23 Growth (%) |
| HP Inc. | 4,495 | 26.1 | 4.665 | 28.1 | -3.6 |
| Dell | 3,748 | 21.8 | 3,805 | 22.9 | -1.5 |
| Lenovo | 2,958 | 17.2 | 2,650 | 16.0 | 11.6 |
| Apple | 2,565 | 14.9 | 2,473 | 14.9 | 3.8 |
| Acer | 991 | 5.8 | 826 | 5.0 | 20.0 |
| ASUS | 897 | 5.2 | 664 | 4.0 | 35.0 |
| Others | 1,536 | 8.9 | 1,524 | 9.2 | 0.8 |
| Total | 17,192 | 100.0 | 16,608 | 100.0 | 3.5 |
Notes: Data includes desktop and laptop PCs that are equipped with Windows, macOS and Chrome OS. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (January 2025)
