Counterpoint's latest market research report predicts that the global PC market will grow strongly in 2024, with shipments expected to reach 253 million units, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. This growth is mainly due to the impending end of support for Windows 10 and the rise of AI laptops. The report provides a detailed analysis of the driving factors behind market growth, the performance of each brand, and future development trends, providing valuable insights into the PC market.
Counterpoint released the latest market research report, pointing out that the global PC market will see significant growth in 2024, with full-year shipments expected to reach 253 million units, an increase of 2.6% from 2023. This growth is mainly affected by the impending end of support for Windows 10 and the launch of a new generation of AI laptops.
The report shows that in the fourth quarter of 2024, the global PC market shipments increased by 3.7% year-on-year, which benefited from the consumption boom during the year-end holidays and the subsidy policy in the Chinese market. At the same time, many companies are actively upgrading their IT systems to cope with the challenge of Windows 10 stopping support in October 2025, which has also led to a continued increase in corporate PC orders.
In terms of new products, many brands will launch laptops with generative AI functions in 2024. Major new models include devices based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite series, AMD's Strix Point, and Intel's Lunar Lake series. The report points out that more than 25% of laptops shipped in 2024 will have generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) capabilities.
From the perspective of brand performance, Lenovo, Asus and Acer's sales growth performance is better than the market average, while HP's growth is relatively stable. After a sluggish first half, Apple achieved modest growth with the launch of its new MacBook Pro at the end of the year. Relatively speaking, Dell will face more challenges in 2024, with less activity in the enterprise market.
Looking forward, the report predicts that with the end of Windows 10 support and the increase in the number of AI laptops, 2025 will be a good year for PC brands, and orders in the commercial market are expected to grow significantly. The new generation of AI laptops are equipped with powerful NPU technology and can effectively run various generative AI applications. They are expected to occupy nearly 60% of the market share.
The AI laptops of 2024 will change the user experience and promote the development of the overall market. These devices usually sell for more than $1,000 and have stronger hardware performance and AI support. It is expected that mid-range PCs will gradually become popular with this technology by 2025.
Highlight:
Global PC shipments are expected to reach 253 million units in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%.
More than 25% of new laptops will have generative AI capabilities, driving market upgrades.
AI laptops are expected to account for nearly 60% of the market in 2025, and commercial orders are expected to grow.
All in all, Counterpoint's report clearly shows the booming development trend of the PC market in 2024, and the integration of AI technology has injected strong impetus into future development. The discontinuation of Windows 10 and the popularity of AI laptops will continue to drive the PC market to achieve greater breakthroughs in 2025.