Mainland China’s PC market rose 2 percent in Q4 2024, driven primarily by an 8 percent growth in consumer demand, Canalys said.
Notebooks led the recovery in the PC market in China with a 6 percent increase, reaching 8.6 million units in Q4 2024. Desktops in Chinese PC market faced a decline of 9 percent to 2.9 million units in Q4. Tablet shipments dipped 1 percent to 8.3 million units.
Despite this late-year improvement, total PC shipments in China for 2024 declined 4 percent to 39.7 million units, largely due to weaknesses in the commercial sector. However, the tablet market saw an 11 percent increase, reaching 31.5 million units, with further gains anticipated in 2025.
Canalys projects that there will be a 3 percent growth in PC shipments in China to 41 million units and a 1 percent increase in tablet shipments to 31.9 million units, driven by government subsidies and new product launches.
Government subsidies played a crucial role in driving growth in PC shipments in China during the latter half of 2024, and additional incentives are expected to sustain market momentum into early 2025.
PC vendors have introduced new PC models across various price segments, ranging from RMB4,000 to over RMB10,000, encouraging consumers to upgrade their devices.
With subsidies of up to RMB2,000 per device extended into 2025, a significant refresh cycle is anticipated, following stagnation in post-COVID demand and ahead of the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline in October.
The availability of subsidies, combined with competitive product offerings and strong distribution channels, will be vital for vendors to capitalize on this stimulus and expand their market share.
Starting in January 2025, tablets became eligible for government subsidies, prompting Chinese smartphone vendors to swiftly adjust their sales strategies to take advantage of the stimulus. Apple’s launch of new iPad and Mac products in March 2025, with more competitive pricing than previous generations, aligns with these subsidies and is expected to further stimulate both new and replacement demand.
Market projections for 2025 indicate a return to growth, supported by government incentives and the ongoing transition to domestic alternatives within government agencies and large enterprises. The overall PC market is expected to grow 3 percent year on year, reaching 41 million units, with consumer demand projected to increase by 13 percent in the first half of the year.
Meanwhile, the commercial sector is set to grow 7 percent year on year, though small and medium-sized businesses may take longer to fully recover. The tablet market is expected to experience modest growth of 1 percent year on year, reaching 31.9 million units, with a 3 percent increase in the consumer segment driven by government subsidies.
AI-capable PCs gained traction throughout 2024, reaching 5.8 million units and accounting for 15 percent of total PC shipments in Mainland China. This trend is expected to accelerate, with AI-capable PCs projected to represent 34 percent of total PC shipments in Greater China by 2025.
Mainland China continues to lead in AI innovation, with DeepSeek emerging as a key player in the space. The cost-effective open-source AI model has driven significant adoption across both private and public sector environments. Major vendors such as Lenovo and HONOR are integrating DeepSeek into their AI assistant offerings, enhancing their product appeal.
As AI models evolve and the surrounding ecosystem matures, vendors with an early focus on AI development will gain a significant competitive advantage. The rapid expansion of Mainland China’s AI ecosystem presents an opportunity for vendors to strengthen their market positions by fostering deep partnerships with domestic innovators.
Lenovo (13.7 million), Huawei (4.3 million), HP (3.4 million), iSoftStone (3.4 million), Asus (3 million) and Others (11.8 million) are the leading PC brands in China in 2024, Canalys said.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
