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The latest Canalys, now part of Omdia, data reveals that AI-capable PC shipments hit 15.4 million units in Q4 2024, accounting for 23% of all PC shipments during the quarter. AI-capable PCs are defined as desktops and notebooks that include a chipset or block for dedicated AI workloads such as an NPU. The ramp-up in the availability of such devices led to a sequential growth of 18% for this category of PCs. For the full year 2024, 17% of PCs shipped were AI-capable, with the biggest winners being Apple at 54% share, followed by Lenovo and HP at 12% share each. The refresh cycle induced by the Windows 10 end of support will continue to drive penetration throughout 2025. However, Trump’s tariffs on US imports are causing uncertainty around price hikes, which could significantly impact the world’s largest PC market.
“Commercial deployments of AI-capable PCs continued their momentum in late 2024 as vendors introduced business-focused programs and products,” said Kieren Jessop, Analyst at Canalys. “Intel is anchoring in the premium tier, with Lunar Lake-powered devices meeting Copilot+ PC requirements but carrying higher costs than their main x86 competitor AMD, which is straddling premium and mid-range segments. Qualcomm is similarly bifurcating its portfolio as it shared plans to bring the X-series processors to US$600-range laptops. Legacy generations of Apple’s Macs have also seen price reductions, which is helping drive its commercial share, particularly in emerging markets,” added Jessop.
“As the deadline for Windows 10 end of support gets closer, it is emerging as the primary refresh catalyst among partners,” said Jessop. According to a January poll of channel partners, one-third cited Windows 10 EoS as the primary driver of their customers’ refresh decisions in 2025. “Many of these partners are expecting the majority of their customers’ refresh to occur in the second half of 2025,” added Jessop. “However, looming trade policy shifts in the US threaten to disrupt the market that accounts for around one in three shipped PCs and could hamper the upcoming commercial refresh cycle and dampen an already muted consumer outlook. So far, the Trump administration has placed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, which accounts for a significant majority of laptops shipped to the US.”
Vendor and platform highlights
Total Windows AI-capable PC shipments grew 26% sequentially, accounting for 15% of all Windows PCs shipped in Q4. “At CES 2025, PC manufacturers expanded their focus on AI-driven software, integrating proprietary assistants and applications across more product lines,” said Jessop. “Offerings like Lenovo AI Now, Dell Pro AI Studio, HP AI Companion and Asus StoryCube—while not entirely new—were more prominently featured, signaling a shift toward differentiation through software and user experience enhancements. Furthermore, Apple Intelligence features were released across Mac, iPad and iPhone platforms. Although AI capabilities are not a primary purchasing driver, improved AI processor performance will make personalized experiences and productivity gains increasingly important and expected. Over time, this could influence brand loyalty, shaping customers’ decisions for future device upgrades.”
“Also, at CES, Dell unveiled a major overhaul of its product naming strategy, transitioning from established brands like XPS and Inspiron to a streamlined structure comprising ‘Dell’, ‘Dell Pro’ and ‘Dell Pro Max’. Dell’s rebranding strategy reflects a broader industry trend toward simplification and user-centric design. However, the transition period may require substantial marketing efforts to familiarize existing customers with the new naming conventions.”
“Apple finished strong in Q4 2024, significantly outgrowing the top three vendors and achieving a 10.2% market share in the total PC market and 45% share in the AI-capable PC market,” added Jessop. “Apple’s channel strategy continues to evolve as they announced the Apple Partner Network, launching later this year. This revamped program simplifies partner tiers and aims to take a share in the Enterprise segment while providing the necessary services to handle customers. The program highlights Mac’s compatibility and scalability within the Enterprise environment, concerns which have previously kept them out of the segment.”
Canalys AI capable PC definition:
At a minimum, an AI-capable PC must be a desktop or notebook possessing a dedicated chipset or block to run on-device AI workloads. Examples of these dedicated chipsets include AMD’s XDNA, Apple’s Neural Engine, Intel’s AI Boost and Qualcomm’s Hexagon.
