FRAMINGHAM, MA – Global PC shipments reached 63.2 million units in the first quarter, a 4.9% increase year-over-year, according to IDC. Growth was fueled by strong commercial demand and efforts to accelerate shipments ahead of potential US tariff impacts, the research firm added.
“The ecosystem pulled forward deliveries to avoid early tariff exposure,” said IDC’s Jean Philippe Bouchard. He noted the April 2 tariff announcement could drive up costs and slow IT spending through the rest of the year.
Key drivers — like the Windows 10 refresh cycle and demand for AI-ready devices — remain in place. However, IDC warned that inflationary pressure from tariffs, however, plus coupled with broader economic uncertainty, could dampen demand in upcoming quarters.
IDC's Ryan Reith added that vendors are now reassessing manufacturing and logistics strategies. “Price increases on hardware are likely to be passed directly to consumers,” he said, pointing to ongoing volatility in trade policy and limited visibility in the supply chain.
Top 5 PC Vendors, Q1 2025 (YoY Growth):
Combined, these five vendors accounted for nearly 75% of the market. Lenovo led with 24.1% share, followed by HP at 20.2%.