Global shipments of traditional PCs saw a slight dip in the third quarter of 2024, dropping by 2.4% year-over-year to 68.8 million units, according to the latest data from International Data Corp. (IDC), a market intelligence firm.
According to IDC, despite an improving global economy, factors such as increased costs and inventory buildup contributed to a slowdown in sales.
“Demand, without a doubt, has returned for PCs among consumers and commercial buyers,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “However, much of the demand was still concentrated at the entry level thanks to a recovering economy and the back-to-school season in North America.”
Ubrani noted that AI-enabled PCs, such as Qualcomm’s Copilot+ models and upcoming devices from Intel, AMD, and Apple, are expected to boost the higher-end market in the coming months.
IDC explained that while AI is anticipated to become widespread by the end of the decade, its adoption in the PC market may take longer, with significant growth not expected until 2026. The next year will focus on developing AI-related software and targeting the right audiences for these advanced machines.
Commercial demand for PCs outside the education sector remains strong, particularly as businesses prepare for the end of support for Windows 10. Japan, in particular, saw double-digit growth in PC shipments. IDC expects other markets to follow this trend in the coming quarters.
The IDC added that while there are risks due to the geopolitical climate, the market could see modest growth heading into 2025.