China PC market is experiencing a strong rebound, with shipments (excluding tablets) growing 12 percent year on year in Q2 2025, reaching 10.2 million units, according to the latest data from Canalys, part of Omdia. Both consumer and commercial demand rose, supported by government subsidies and major procurement from state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Tablet shipments also surged 18 percent year on year to 9.1 million units, but the long-term growth trajectory differs. While PC shipments in China are forecast to rise 2 percent in 2025 and 3 percent in 2026, tablet shipments are projected to grow 8 percent in 2025 before declining 9 percent in 2026.
Key Consumer Trends in PC Purchases
AI PCs on the Rise
AI-capable PCs accounted for 28 percent of shipments in Q2 2025.
Adoption is forecast to hit 34 percent in 2025 and 52 percent in 2026, creating an installed base of over 107 million AI PCs in Greater China by 2029.
Consumers are prioritizing AI-ready hardware as China’s AI Plus Action Plan targets widespread AI adoption by 2030.
Government Subsidies Driving Demand
Subsidies remain a key growth driver, particularly benefiting Apple, whose new MacBook Air saw strong uptake due to competitive pricing.
Local vendors are also benefitting from discounting strategies and SOE refresh cycles.
Falling PC Prices and More Choice
Fierce competition among chipmakers is pushing down PC prices.
AMD’s Ryzen AI series, Radeon RX 9060 GPU, and Ryzen 9000 processors, alongside Intel’s discounted offerings, have made AI-capable PCs more affordable.
Top Vendors in China’s PC Market
Apple: Gained momentum thanks to subsidies and a competitive MacBook Air launch.
Lenovo: Maintains a strong foothold in both consumer and enterprise segments.
HP and Dell: Competing in the commercial sector with refreshed product lines.
Local AI Players: Vendors such as Cambricon and Huawei are investing in AI PC development, aligning with China’s national AI strategy.
PC market share
In Q2 2025, Lenovo strengthened its lead in the Mainland China PC market with shipments of 3.4 million units, up from 3.0 million a year earlier, raising its market share slightly from 33 percent to 34 percent.
Huawei shipped 1.0 million units, down from 1.2 million in Q2 2024, with its market share slipping from 13 percent to 10 percent.
Asus grew from 0.7 million to 0.9 million units, increasing its share from 7 percent to 9 percent.
HP also rose from 0.8 million to 0.9 million units, though its share dipped from 9 percent to 8 percent.
iSoftStone recorded growth from 0.7 million to 0.8 million units but maintained its 8 percent share.
Shipments by other vendors grew from 2.7 million to 3.3 million units, with their combined share climbing from 29 percent to 32 percent.
Overall, Lenovo expanded its dominance, Huawei lost ground, and Asus and HP made modest gains in China’s PC market compared to the same quarter last year.
Tablet Market Outlook
While PC demand grows steadily, tablet vendors face tougher competition. Apple and Huawei dominate the premium segment, while Xiaomi entered the market with its first gaming tablet. Future growth will hinge on AI integration, content ecosystems, and targeted devices for gamers, creators, and entertainment users.
What Consumers Should Consider
AI readiness: With AI adoption accelerating, buying an AI-capable PC ensures future-proofing.
Price advantage: Government subsidies and chipmaker discounts are making 2025 one of the best times to upgrade.
Brand strategies: Consumers can expect more specialized products, from gaming PCs and tablets to AI-driven productivity devices.
Bottom line: For Chinese consumers, AI PCs represent the future of personal computing, offering powerful hardware at increasingly competitive prices. With subsidies and vendor competition heating up, 2025 is a pivotal year to make the right PC purchase.
Rajani Baburajan
