Enterprise demand fuels 4.4% growth in Q2 PC market

Lenovo led global PC shipments in Q2 2025 with 13.9% growth, followed by Apple at 13.4%, while HP posted modest gains and Dell saw a 3.0% decline due to softer consumer demand

The global PC market has shown early signs of recovery after a prolonged period of sluggish performance. According to preliminary estimates released by Gartner, Inc., worldwide PC shipments rose to over 63 million units in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

This growth was primarily driven by a surge in enterprise demand, particularly in the United States, where companies ramped up purchases in response to ongoing Windows 11 migrations and tariff-related inventory adjustments. The desktop refresh cycle, triggered by aging pandemic-era infrastructure, also contributed to the uptick in shipments. AI-enabled laptops are gaining traction, especially in sectors like education, further supporting the market rebound.

Rishi Padhi, Research Principal at Gartner, noted that enterprise activity far outpaced consumer spending during the quarter. While businesses upgraded their infrastructure to align with new operating systems and performance needs, consumers remained cautious, delaying purchases amid economic uncertainties and lack of compelling upgrade incentives. This divergence between enterprise and consumer behavior continues to shape the dynamics of the PC market in 2025.

Outlook steady despite early gains

Despite the recent growth, Gartner maintains a conservative full-year outlook. The firm forecasts an overall increase of 2.4% in global PC shipments for the calendar year. Analysts caution that the current pace of inventory buildup, if unmatched by sustained demand, could result in a surplus by the end of the year. The preference among many organizations to upgrade existing devices rather than invest in entirely new hardware is also seen as a limiting factor in the market’s growth potential.

Regionally, performance varied. The North American market experienced a slight decline, while Asia-Pacific markets remained largely flat. In contrast, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region recorded robust gains due to seasonal demand and consistent adoption of Windows 11.

AI PCs drive market momentum

Among major vendors, Lenovo led the market with a 13.9% year-on-year growth, shipping more than 17 million units globally. Apple followed closely with a 13.4% increase, reflecting continued momentum in its Mac segment. HP Inc. saw modest gains, while Dell Technologies posted a slight decline of 3.0%, largely due to weaker consumer sales.

With AI-capable devices and OS upgrades driving much of the momentum, the second half of 2025 will be critical in determining whether this recovery sustains or tapers off.