Global PC shipments reached 64.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024, showing a 1.4% rise compared to the same period in 2023, according to preliminary data from research and consulting firm Gartner Inc.
This is the fifth straight quarter of growth, Gartner said. For the year, total shipments stood at 245.3 million units, a slight 1.3% increase from 2023. However, shipments remained below the 250 million mark for the second consecutive year.
“Despite higher expectations for AI PCs and the Windows 11 refresh cycle, the PC market showed only modest growth in late 2024,” Ranjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner, said in a media release. “The price of AI PCs discouraged consumers, while economic challenges in regions like China and parts of Europe held back demand.”
Among vendors, Lenovo posted 4.2% year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter, driven by strong performance in Japan and the Americas. However, a weak economy in China, Lenovo’s largest market, tempered overall growth. HP Inc. and Dell Technologies both experienced declines during the quarter, with Dell shipments down 0.1% year-over-year.
Low demand in China significantly impacted the Asia Pacific region, where the market dropped by 12% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Japan and other parts of Asia Pacific performed better, boosted by year-end business spending and holiday promotions.
“At this pace, we expect PC demand to improve in 2025, supported by delayed Windows 11 upgrades and growing business applications for AI PCs,” Atwal added.