Signalling cautious recovery after a sluggish period, global PC shipments rose 4.8% in Q1 2025, driven by U.S. tariff fears and Japan’s education demand.
The global PC market recorded a 4.8% year-on-year (YoY) shipment increase during the first quarter of 2025, reaching nearly 59 million units, according to preliminary figures from research firm Gartner.
This marks a return to growth after a challenging period for the industry, driven by strategic purchasing in the US and increased business demand in Japan.
The US market saw the sharpest rise, with shipments jumping 12.6% to 16.4 million units. Analysts attribute this spike to vendors ramping up inventory in anticipation of potential new tariffs.
However, underlying demand remained restrained, with enterprises making cautious purchases, mainly driven by the ongoing transition to Windows 11.
Japan followed with a 15.6% rise, fuelled by large-scale replacements of Windows 10 machines and robust sales of Chromebooks through the government’s GIGA School Programme. This dual demand from both businesses and the education sector significantly boosted shipment figures.
Globally, Lenovo retained its lead with a 25.9% market share and a 9.6% growth rate, shipping over 15 million units. HP held second place with 12.8 million units shipped and 5.9% growth, while Dell posted a more modest 2.1% increase. Acer reported the slowest growth among the top six vendors at just 1.9%.
In the US, HP led the market with 25.1% share, while Lenovo recorded the strongest growth at 20.7%, reflecting its increasing foothold in North America.
While the growth offers a positive signal, analysts have highlighted that businesses must treat it cautiously. Much of the rise is linked to pre-emptive stockpiling and necessary OS upgrades, rather than a surge in end-user demand.
For vendors, the current momentum offers short-term sales boosts, but sustainability will depend on the broader adoption of new devices and software.
Meanwhile, companies focused on enterprise refresh cycles and education sector partnerships are well-positioned, but must monitor geopolitical factors such as tariffs closely, as these could shape demand patterns in upcoming quarters.
