Global pc shipments rise 1.4% in Q4 2024

New Delhi

Worldwide personal computer shipments reached 64.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 1.4% increase from the same period in 2023, according to a report on Friday. This growth represents the fifth consecutive quarter of rising shipments.

For the full year, PC shipments totaled 245.3 million units, up 1.3% from 2023. Despite expectations for higher adoption of AI-powered PCs and a Windows 11 refresh cycle, market growth remained modest.

“High prices for AI PCs deterred strong consumer adoption, while economic uncertainty in regions like China and parts of Europe limited demand,” said Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. However, he predicted stronger growth in 2025 as businesses embrace AI capabilities and delayed upgrades boost demand.

Among key manufacturers, HP Inc. and Dell Technologies saw slight declines, while other vendors experienced year-over-year growth. Lenovo posted its fifth consecutive quarter of gains, growing 4.2% from the previous year.

In the Asia Pacific region, weak demand in China led to a 12% annual decline in PC shipments. However, other markets, including Japan, performed better, driven by businesses spending year-end budgets and holiday season promotions. Overall, desktop sales in the region fell, while laptop shipments remained flat.

Gartner forecasts that evolving AI use cases and refreshed Windows 11 devices will further stimulate the global PC market in the coming year.