The Canalys report has revealed the latest AI PC market share of top vendors such as Apple, Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, Huawei and Microsoft during Q4 2024.
In Q4 2024, Apple led the AI-capable PC market with a significant 45 percent share, while its overall PC market share stood at 10 percent.
Lenovo followed with a 15 percent AI PC share and a 25 percent total PC market share.
HP secured 14 percent of AI-capable PC shipments and accounted for 20 percent of the total PC market.
Dell held a 9 percent share in AI-capable PCs, while its overall PC market share was 15 percent.
Asus captured 5 percent of AI-capable PC shipments and 7 percent of the total PC market.
Acer and Huawei each had a 3 percent share of AI-capable PCs, with Acer holding 6 percent of the total PC market and Huawei at 2 percent.
Microsoft had a 2 percent AI-capable PC share, compared to just 0.4 percent of the total PC market.
Other vendors collectively held 5 percent of AI-capable PCs and 15 percent of the overall PC market.
AI PC market
The AI PC market saw significant growth in Q4 2024, with AI-capable PC shipments reaching 15.4 million units, accounting for 23 percent of all PC shipments during the quarter.
AI-capable PCs, defined as desktops and notebooks equipped with dedicated AI processing units, experienced an 18 percent sequential growth as availability increased. For the full year, 17 percent of all PCs shipped were AI-capable, with Apple leading the market at a 54 percent share, followed by Lenovo and HP at 12 percent each.
The upcoming Windows 10 end-of-support cycle is expected to drive further adoption in 2025, though potential tariff-related price increases in the U.S. market could create uncertainty.
Commercial deployments of AI-capable PCs gained momentum as vendors introduced targeted programs and products. Intel positioned itself in the premium tier with Lunar Lake-powered devices, aligning with Copilot+ PC requirements but at higher costs compared to AMD, which maintained a presence across both premium and mid-range segments. Qualcomm also expanded its AI PC portfolio, planning to introduce X-series processors in $600-range laptops.
Apple leveraged price reductions on legacy Mac models to expand its commercial market share, particularly in emerging regions.
The approaching Windows 10 end-of-support deadline is emerging as a key driver for PC refresh cycles, with many businesses planning upgrades in the latter half of 2025. However, U.S. trade policy changes, including a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports — where the majority of laptops are manufactured — could disrupt the market, potentially dampening consumer demand and delaying commercial refresh cycles. Since the U.S. accounts for one-third of global PC shipments, these tariffs could have a significant impact on overall market dynamics.
AI-capable Windows PC shipments grew 26 percent sequentially in Q4, representing 15 percent of all Windows PCs shipped. At CES 2025, manufacturers placed greater emphasis on AI-driven software, integrating proprietary assistants and applications across product lines.
Brands like Lenovo AI Now, Dell Pro AI Studio, HP AI Companion, and Asus StoryCube were showcased as key differentiators, emphasizing the role of AI in enhancing user experiences. Apple also introduced Apple Intelligence across Mac, iPad, and iPhone, signaling a broader industry shift toward AI-driven personalization and productivity improvements.
Dell announced a major rebranding effort at CES, streamlining its product naming strategy by replacing established brands like XPS and Inspiron with “Dell,” “Dell Pro,” and “Dell Pro Max.” While this reflects a broader industry trend toward simplification, the transition may require substantial marketing efforts to familiarize consumers with the new naming conventions.
Apple outperformed its top competitors in Q4 2024, achieving a 10.2 percent share of the total PC market and a dominant 45 percent share in the AI-capable PC segment. The company announced the Apple Partner Network, set to launch later in the year, aiming to simplify partner tiers and strengthen its presence in the enterprise sector.
This initiative highlights Mac’s compatibility and scalability for business environments, addressing previous concerns that limited its enterprise adoption. As AI integration becomes an industry-wide focus, brands are positioning themselves for long-term differentiation through both hardware innovation and software-driven user experiences.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
