Synopsis
A recent report reveals that the global PC market experienced a 3.7% shipment growth in Q4 2024, with over 25% of laptops now equipped with generative AI capabilities, spurred by corporate IT upgrades and the approaching end of Windows 10 support.Key Takeaways
- Global PC market saw a 3.7% growth in Q4 2024.
- More than 25% of laptops are now GenAI capable.
- PC shipments totaled 253 million in 2024.
- AI laptops expected to capture 60% of the market by 2025.
- Competition among chip vendors intensifying.
New Delhi, Jan 20 (NationPress) The global PC market experienced a 3.7% increase in shipments during Q4 2024, with more than 25% of laptops being capable of generative AI (GenAI) last year, according to a report released on Monday.
Based on preliminary data from Counterpoint Research, there has been a consistent influx of PC orders from businesses, fueled by ongoing corporate IT enhancements as the deadline for Windows 10 support approaches in October 2025.
In total, PC manufacturers dispatched 253 million PCs throughout 2024, reflecting a 2.6% rise from 2023. This growth is attributed to both the looming cessation of Windows 10 support and the initial introduction of AI PCs in the latter half of last year.
“We believe the PC market has returned to regular seasonality and entered a new chapter following the rollout of AI PCs in 2024,” the report states.
AI laptops are anticipated to dominate nearly 60% of the overall laptop market by 2025.
“While the market share of PC vendors in 2024 remained relatively stable, competition among chip manufacturers in the AI PC sector is heating up, particularly with the emergence of Qualcomm, AMD’s increasing popularity, and Intel’s decline, alongside a potential new competitor introducing an Arm-based solution later this year,” commented senior analyst William Li.
In 2024, PC manufacturers unveiled various AI PC offerings, starting with models utilizing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite series, followed by AMD’s Strix Point and Intel’s Lunar Lake.
Companies such as Lenovo, Asus, and Acer reported robust growth exceeding the market average. HP experienced minimal growth, while Apple saw a slight increase after a sluggish first half, thanks to the launch of the new MacBook Pro at year-end.
All laptops priced over $1,000 will inherently feature on-device GenAI capabilities, which are expected to trickle down to mid-tier PCs in terms of both hardware and support, thereby boosting shipments of such laptops in 2025, as noted in the report.
The AI ecosystem concerning software and applications is projected to continue evolving this year, with Agentic AI becoming increasingly prevalent, the report added.
