The global PC market is climbing again thanks to Windows 11 upgrades and US inventory buildup.
According to new figures from Gartner, PC shipments in the second quarter of 2025 increased by 4.4 percent compared to the same period last year. In total, more than 63 million devices were shipped. The increase is mainly due to business replacements and temporary inventory buildup in the US to stay ahead of import tariffs.
Windows 11 as the Driver
Rishi Padhi, analyst at Gartner, sees Windows 11 migrations as the main driver: “Companies are still replacing their pandemic-era desktops. However, many organizations are choosing to upgrade existing hardware rather than replace it.” Consumers are more hesitant and are postponing their purchases.
Regionally, the picture is mixed: in North America, the market declined slightly by 0.5 percent, while EMEA grew by 5.3 percent. Asia remained stable, which in itself is an improvement after previous declines. Ryan Reith from IDC states: “The biggest concern is how demand will look as we approach Q3. Price increases will likely be spread across time and regions, depending on vendor strategy. This could potentially lead to attractive promotions to clear inventory shortages, which seems strange at a time when prices are expected to rise due to tariffs.”
Lenovo Gains Ground
The top five PC brands remain largely unchanged. Lenovo recorded the strongest growth (+13.9%) and remains market leader with 26.9 percent. Apple also grew significantly (+13.4%), while Dell lost ground. Gartner expects a 2.4 percent increase in global PC shipments for the full year 2025.