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| The MacBook Pro with Apple M5 helped boost Apple's sales slightly in 2025. |
The global PC market has just closed out a surprisingly robust year, shaking off earlier forecasts of stagnation with a significant surge in shipments. According to the latest industry data, this growth was fueled by a perfect storm of software deadlines, geopolitical tensions, and component shortages that drove both consumers and businesses to open their wallets.
A Year of Two Halves: What Drove the 8.1% Surge?
New figures from the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveal the global PC market grew by 9.6% in the critical fourth quarter of 2025. For the full year, growth settled at a healthy 8.1%, with total shipments reaching 284.7 million units. Analysts point to two distinct waves of demand that defined the year.
The first half’s momentum came from a major software milestone. “The end of support for Windows 10 was a primary catalyst, prompting a long-awaited refresh cycle for millions of users,” explains one industry insider. This was compounded by consumer uncertainty around potential price hikes due to ongoing US tariffs, creating a “buy now” mentality.
As detailed in their latest press release, IDC’s research shows the landscape shifted again in the latter part of the year. Here, a growing DRAM shortage took center stage. Fearing impending price increases and limited availability, customers rushed to secure new PCs at more affordable rates before costs could climb further.
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| The PC market saw growth of 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025 |
The Vendor Landscape: Lenovo Extends Its Lead
The competitive rankings saw consolidation at the top, with familiar names holding their ground.
- Lenovo solidified its position as the world’s leading PC manufacturer, shipping 70.8 million units in 2025. This represents a strong 14.5% growth year-over-year, capturing 24.9% of the total market.
- HP Inc. maintained its second-place standing, shipping 57.5 million computers for a 20.2% market share.
- Dell Technologies followed in third place with 41.1 million units shipped, holding 14.4% of the market.
- The race for fourth place is heating up. Apple shipped 25.6 million Macs, earning a 9.0% share. However, Asus is closing the gap from fifth position, having moved 20.5 million PCs to achieve a 7.2% market share.
2026 Outlook: A Volatile Year Ahead for Buyers
While 2025 was a year of growth, IDC analysts are sounding a note of caution for the coming months. They expect 2026 to be “very volatile,” primarily due to the ongoing DRAM supply constraints.
The implications for consumers and businesses are direct:
- Higher Prices: Rising DRAM costs will likely translate to higher sticker prices for finished laptops and desktops.
- Spec Shifts: To manage costs, manufacturers may begin offering base models with less RAM, shifting upgrade burdens to consumers.
- A Two-Tier Market: Large corporate buyers with bulk purchasing power will be better shielded from price shocks through negotiations with suppliers. The hardest hit will likely be individual enthusiasts and DIY PC builders, who will need to “dig much deeper into their pockets” for memory components.
The PC market, it seems, is navigating a delicate balance. The strong growth of 2025, driven by external pressures, sets the stage for a challenging year where supply chain dynamics, rather than demand, will dictate the pace and shape of the industry.
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| Lenovo, Asus and Apple are among the winners of 2025 |