Global PC shipments rose 8.9 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, driven by product refresh cycles, the transition to newer Windows systems and China’s consumer electronics replacement subsidies, International Data Corp (IDC) said in a report on Wednesday.
PC shipments, which include desktops, notebooks and workstations, totaled 75.5 million units in the July-to-September period, compared with 69.33 million units a year earlier, IDC said.
The PC market is experiencing a very strong year, with the Asia-Pacific region recording double-digit growth, while the North American market continues to bear the impact of US tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainties, it said.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP
“The demand for newer PCs ready for Windows 11 is likely to push well into 2026,” IDC data and analytics vice president Jean Philippe Bouchard said.
Meanwhile, Gartner Inc in an October report said global PC shipments increased 8.2 percent year-on-year in the third quarter to 69.91 million units.
The two research firms measure the market differently, as Gartner only counts desktops and notebooks as PCs, excluding workstations.
Gartner attributed the third-quarter growth to Windows system upgrades and said growth in the North American market was limited to 1.6 percent, as demand had been front-loaded in the first half of the year in anticipation of potential tariffs.
External uncertainties have also continued to reshape consumers’ spending patterns, it added.
“Consumer demand remained subdued at the lower price points, impacted by persistent geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds. Consumers continue to exhibit cautious spending behavior — delaying PC purchases and seeking promotional offers,” Gartner research principal Rishi Padhi said.
IDC and Gartner posted similar rankings for the world’s top five PC brands, with China’s Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想) taking the leading position, followed by the US’ HP Inc, Dell Inc and Apple Inc, and Taiwan’s Asustek Computer Inc (華碩).
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