AI PCs Set to Dominate Global Market by 2025, Despite Temporary Headwinds
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Don't want an AI PC? Tough, they're coming to take overs, new figures claim
US tariffs are causing some headwinds, but this could be temporary AI PCs will make up nearly one-third (31%) of the global PC market by the end of 2025, with an estimated 77.8 million units expected to be shipped, new figures have claimed. This growth shows no sign of slowing down just yet, with AI-capable PCs set to dominate the market with a 55% share next year (equalling 143 million units), the latest Gartner figures have claimed. Factoring in refresh cycles and market trends, Garnter says AI PCs will be "the norm" by 2029 across workplaces and homes. The figures show this segment of the PC market has already doubled since in 2024(15.6% vs. 31%) - with laptops remain a firm favorite, with AI laptops having more than double the market share than AI desktops. Gartner Senior Director Analyst Ranjit Atwal said that although adoption has slowed somewhat due to geopolitical-induced tariffs, "users will invest in AI PCs to ensure they are prepared for the growing integration of AI at the edge." Canalys Principal Analyst Ben Yeh agreed: "The Trump administration's evolving tariff policies continue to reshape global PC supply chains while casting significant uncertainty over market recovery." Separate research from Canalys found AI-capable PCs had reached a 23% market share by the fourth quarter of 2024 - up over the 17% full-year average. This adoption has been helped by the fact AI PCs are starting to bed into the market after a few iterations - for example Apple's M-series computers are considered AI-capable. Being up to five years old, prices have come down, democratizing consumer access to powerful machinery. Looking ahead, Gartner predicts further developments to allow multiple small language models to run locally on AI PCs by the end of 2026, up from zero in 2023.
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AI PC Shipments to Hit 77 Million Units This Year: Report
31% of the global PC market share will be occupied by AI PCs by the end of 2025. AI PCs will make up 31% of the worldwide PC market by the end of 2025, according to Gartner. Shipments are projected to hit 77.8 million units this year, with adoption accelerating to 55% of the global market in 2026 and becoming the standard by 2029. "AI PCs are reshaping the market, but their adoption in 2025 is slowing because of tariffs and pauses in PC buying caused by market uncertainty," said Ranjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner, in a statement. Despite this, users are expected to continue investing in AI PCs to prepare for greater edge AI integration. AI laptop adoption is projected to outpace desktops, with 36% of laptops expected to be AI-enabled by 2025, compared to 16% of desktops. By 2026, nearly 59% of laptops will fall into this category. Businesses lar
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Gartner predicts AI-capable PCs will make up 31% of the global PC market by 2025, with shipments reaching 77.8 million units. Despite temporary slowdowns due to tariffs, AI PCs are expected to become the norm by 2029.
AI PCs Set to Revolutionize the Global Computer Market
The landscape of personal computing is on the brink of a significant transformation, with AI-capable PCs poised to dominate the market in the coming years. According to recent projections by Gartner, AI PCs are expected to capture a substantial 31% of the global PC market by the end of 2025, with an estimated 77.8 million units to be shipped
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Source: Analytics India Magazine
Rapid Growth and Market Penetration
The growth of AI PCs shows no signs of slowing down. Gartner predicts that these advanced machines will command an impressive 55% market share by 2026, equivalent to approximately 143 million units
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. This rapid adoption rate suggests that AI PCs will become "the norm" across workplaces and homes by 2029, factoring in refresh cycles and market trends1
.Current Market Dynamics
The AI PC segment has already experienced significant growth, doubling its market share from 15.6% to 31% in 2024
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. Laptops remain the preferred form factor, with AI-enabled laptops holding more than double the market share of AI desktops. By 2025, 36% of laptops are expected to be AI-enabled, compared to 16% of desktops2
.Factors Influencing Adoption
While the overall trajectory for AI PCs is upward, some temporary headwinds are affecting the market:
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Geopolitical Factors: US tariffs and evolving trade policies are causing some uncertainty in the market. Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Canalys, notes that "The Trump administration's evolving tariff policies continue to reshape global PC supply chains while casting significant uncertainty over market recovery"
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Market Uncertainty: Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, acknowledges that adoption has slowed somewhat due to these geopolitical-induced tariffs. However, he emphasizes that "users will invest in AI PCs to ensure they are prepared for the growing integration of AI at the edge"
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Democratization of AI Computing
The adoption of AI PCs has been facilitated by the maturation of the market:
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Price Reduction: As AI-capable computers, such as Apple's M-series, have been in the market for up to five years, prices have decreased, making these powerful machines more accessible to consumers
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Technological Advancements: Gartner predicts that by the end of 2026, multiple small language models will be able to run locally on AI PCs, a significant leap from zero capability in 2023
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Source: TechRadar
Future Outlook
Despite temporary slowdowns, the long-term outlook for AI PCs remains strong. As businesses and consumers increasingly recognize the value of edge AI integration, investment in AI-capable machines is expected to continue. The market is clearly moving towards a future where AI capabilities will be a standard feature in personal computing, reshaping how we interact with and utilize our devices.
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