IDC anticipates a notable upswing in desktop and mobile workstation shipments, projecting a growth rate of 5.2 percent for the year 2024.
This surge, attributed to the replenishment of stocks and preparation for upcoming refresh projects, is expected to gain momentum, reaching a growth rate of 7.9 percent by 2025. However, IDC predicts a moderation in growth post-2025 due to the rush towards Windows 11 migration.
According to Jay Chou, the research manager for IDC’s Worldwide Client Devices Trackers, several factors will drive this growth, notably the impending expiration of Windows 10 support in late 2025. Enterprises are expected to accelerate their migration efforts towards Windows 11, alongside the launch of new CPU and GPU technologies. Additionally, the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) for work purposes is anticipated to broaden the scope of use cases, including model development.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the global desktop and mobile workstation market witnessed a year-over-year growth of 6.1 percent, IDC said in its report on workstation market. This growth, totaling 1.85 million units shipped, marked a reversal from five consecutive quarters of declining annual shipment figures.
The workstation market, which totaled 7.6 million units in 2022, experienced an 8.8 percent decline in shipments in 2023. Despite this setback, certain market leaders maintained their positions:
Dell, securing the top spot, demonstrated steady performance throughout 2023, outperforming the market despite a slight decrease in shipment volume in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year.
HP Inc., ranking second, faced challenges in 2023 but experienced growth in the fourth quarter due to channel replenishment of its entry-level systems.
Lenovo, holding the third position, exhibited significant growth of over 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. However, continued softness in the Chinese market posed some limitations to its overall performance.
As the desktop and mobile workstation market prepares for significant shifts driven by technological advancements and software updates, industry players are gearing up to capitalize on the anticipated growth in shipments over the coming years.
