The global PC market has rebounded strongly in the second quarter of 2025, with PC shipments climbing 6.5 percent year-over-year to 68.4 million units, according to preliminary numbers released by IDC. However, while the rest of the world is embracing new devices, the U.S. market has hit a wall, posting 0 percent growth for the quarter.
The slowdown in the United States appears to be directly tied to a mix of overproduction earlier in the year and the uncertain future of import tariffs. U.S. vendors reportedly ramped up production early in 2025 to get ahead of potential tariff increases, but that decision may now be backfiring as PC demand softens in the face of rising costs and buyer hesitation. IDC’s Jean Philippe Bouchard noted that while a post-surge cool-down was expected, the depth of this stall suggests broader hesitation: “What we’re witnessing here might highlight U.S. PC demand slowing down in anticipation of the import tariffs looming deadline.”
Global PC sales continue to benefit from two main drivers: an aging installed base of devices across markets, and a steady migration to Windows 11, especially in the enterprise and education sectors. Many regions are seeing renewed interest in mid-range and premium laptops, as users look for long-term hardware amid longer refresh cycles.
But in the U.S., the challenge for PC makers is now strategic. Build too many units, and they risk excess inventory. Build too few, and they may miss the window to take advantage of demand spikes or tariff-related price increases. IDC’s Ryan Reith added that pricing strategies will vary: some vendors may attempt to raise prices, while others could offer discounts to reduce warehouse stock. “It seems odd to be clearing inventory at a time when prices are expected to rise,” Reith said, “but that’s the paradox created by these tariff pressures.”
As for the leading PC vendors, Lenovo continues to dominate with 24.8 percent of the global market, followed by HP (20.7 percent), Dell (14.3 percent), Apple (9.1 percent), and Asus (7.2 percent). Notably, Apple posted the highest year-over-year growth, increasing its shipments by 21.4 percent, possibly aided by seasonal back-to-school buying and an expanding M-series Mac lineup.
With global demand on the rise, vendors are cautiously optimistic, but the picture remains murky in the U.S., where macroeconomic and policy decisions could play an outsized role in shaping how the rest of 2025 unfolds for the PC industry.