Global personal computer shipments grew 9.4 per cent year-over-year to 75.9 million units in the third quarter of 2025, driven by Windows 11 transition and replacement of ageing installed base devices, according to preliminary results from International Data Corporation.
The growth continues a strong year for the PC market, though regional results show diverging trends, with North American demand remaining sluggish whilst Asia/Pacific recorded double-digit growth, IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker shows.
“While the entire market is continuing on a very strong year, fueled by Windows 11 transition and the need to replace an ageing installed base, the results by regions are telling different stories,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “In particular, the North American market continues to be impacted by the US import tariffs shock and by macroeconomic uncertainties. While existent, the demand for newer PCs ready for Windows 11 is likely to push well into 2026.”
The Asia/Pacific market, including Japan and China, recorded double-digit growth driven largely by Japan’s hardware refresh linked to Windows 10 end-of-support and the GIGA education project. Growth outside Japan proved more modest, hindered by macroeconomic and political challenges and slow Windows 11 adoption, though pockets of opportunity emerged from hardware refreshes of devices purchased during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The demand was driven largely by Japan’s hardware refresh linked to Windows 10 end-of-support and the GIGA education project,” said Maciek Gornicki, senior research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Device Trackers. “Growth outside Japan was more modest — hindered by macroeconomic and political challenges and slow Windows 11 adoption — though there were pockets of opportunity from hardware refreshes of devices purchased during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Lenovo led the market with 19.4 million unit shipments, representing 25.5 per cent market share, up 17.3 per cent year-over-year from 16.5 million units and 23.8 per cent share in Q3 2024.
HP Inc held second position with 15.0 million units and 19.8 per cent market share, increasing 10.7 per cent from 13.6 million units and 19.6 per cent share in the year-ago quarter.
Dell Technologies ranked third with 10.1 million units and 13.3 per cent share, growing 2.6 per cent from 9.8 million units and 14.2 per cent share. Apple shipped 6.8 million units for 9.0 per cent market share, up 13.7 per cent from 6.0 million units and 8.7 per cent share.
ASUS completed the top five with 5.9 million units and 7.8 per cent share, increasing 11.4 per cent from 5.3 million units and 7.7 per cent share. Other vendors shipped 18.6 million units, representing 24.5 per cent market share, growing 3.0 per cent from 18.1 million units and 26.1 per cent share.
