According to new a report released on Thursday, after witnessing eight consecutive quarters of decline, in the wake of demand slowing down and inventory corrections, global personal computer (PC) shipments saw a growth of approximately 3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter (Q1) of this year. Market intelligence firm Counterpoint Research's latest data suggests that the full year is expected to witness a per cent year-on-year growth, primarily propelled by the momentum of AI PCs, a resurgence in shipments across various sectors, and the initiation of a new replacement cycle.


Lenovo, HP And Dell Grab Top Three Positions 


During the first quarter, Lenovo experienced an 8 per cent increase in PC shipments, allowing the company to regain its market share, reaching 24 per cent compared to 23 per cent in Q1 2023. PC major HP and Dell maintained their market shares at 21 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, with no significant changes.


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Apple demonstrated resilient shipment performance, achieving a 2 per cent growth, driven by the success of M3 base models, as highlighted in the report.


With inventory levels stabilising and the conclusion of the replacement cycle after heightened demand in both enterprise and consumer sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the market research firm predicted that AI laptops to play a pivotal role in bolstering overall PC shipment recovery in 2024.



  • Continuing their recovery from an inventory correction cycle, the global PC market’s shipments grew around 3 per cent YoY in Q1 2024.

  • The top-five brand rankings were unchanged YoY, with Lenovo and Acer remaining resilient.

  • Manufacturers are expected to promote AI PCs as their main products in the second half of 2024 as semiconductor companies prepare to launch SoCs featuring higher TOPS.

  • Counterpoint predicts three per cent YoY shipment growth in the full year of 2024, driven by the demand for AI PCs and a fresh replacement cycle.


AI PCs To Drive Growth This Year 


Manufacturers are poised to shift their focus towards promoting AI PCs as their primary offerings in the latter part of 2024, coinciding with semiconductor companies gearing up to introduce SoCs with higher TOPS. As semiconductor companies gear up to introduce high-end chips, manufacturers are anticipated to pivot towards promoting AI PCs as their primary products in the latter half of this year.