TL;DR
IDC’s preliminary numbers show the global PC market expanded 9.6% in Q4 2025 to 76.4 million units, while Apple shipped 7.1 million Macs—unchanged from Q4 2024—leading to a drop in market share. For the full year Apple outpaced the market with 11.1% growth to 25.6 million units, though some rivals posted stronger gains.
What happened
IDC’s preliminary report for the holiday quarter put global PC shipments at 76.4 million units, a 9.6% year-over-year increase. Regional performance varied: EMEA led with roughly 14% growth, APAC grew about 12%, and the Americas lagged at about 4%. IDC attributes part of the surge to buyers and manufacturers buying memory early amid shortages and expected 2026 price rises. Apple shipped 7.1 million Macs in Q4 2025, the same total it reported a year earlier; as the broader market expanded, Apple’s share fell from 10.2% to 9.3%. Over the full 2025 year the PC market rose 8.1%, while Apple grew 11.1% to 25.6 million units — growth that still trailed peers such as Lenovo and ASUS. IDC warned that evolving memory supply conditions could make 2026 volatile for PC makers and buyers.
Why it matters
- Flat quarterly Mac shipments meant Apple lost share even though unit volume stayed constant, showing how market growth can dilute standing.
- Memory shortages drove early purchases and inventory moves that distorted short-term demand and may reshape vendor competitiveness.
- Regional differences — with EMEA outpacing the Americas — signal uneven demand drivers across markets.
- IDC’s outlook for 2026 suggests potential price pressure and changes to typical memory configurations, which could affect product value propositions.
Key facts
- Global PC shipments in Q4 2025: 76.4 million units, up 9.6% year-over-year.
- Regional Q4 growth: EMEA ~14%, APAC ~12%, Americas ~4%.
- Apple Q4 2025 shipments: 7.1 million units, unchanged from Q4 2024.
- Apple Q4 market share fell from 10.2% to 9.3% as the overall market expanded.
- Full-year 2025 PC market growth: 8.1% year-over-year.
- Apple full-year 2025 shipments: 25.6 million units, up 11.1% year-over-year.
- Competitor growth in 2025: Lenovo ~14.5% and ASUS ~13.4% (growth rates reported by IDC).
- IDC cites memory shortages and early-year tariff concerns — plus the end of Windows 10 support — as demand drivers in 2025.
What to watch next
- How memory supply and pricing develop in 2026; IDC expects evolving conditions to affect system prices and vendor inventories.
- Whether PC manufacturers reduce average memory specifications to conserve modules, as IDC flagged this as a possible industry response.
- Consolidation risk for smaller PC vendors if shortages persist, and whether larger brands continue to gain share by leveraging scale.
- not confirmed in the source: any direct impact of these trends on Apple’s product roadmap or upcoming Mac launches.
Quick glossary
- PC shipments: The number of personal computers (desktops and notebooks) delivered by manufacturers to channels and customers during a period.
- Market share: The percentage of total sales in a market that is attributed to a particular company or product over a given time frame.
- Memory shortages: Periods when supply of RAM or storage modules is constrained, often pushing buyers to secure inventory and affecting prices.
- EMEA: A regional grouping that stands for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Year-over-year (YoY): A method of comparing a statistic for one period with the same period one year earlier to show growth or decline.
Reader FAQ
Did Apple ship more Macs in Q4 2025 compared with Q4 2024?
No. Apple shipped 7.1 million units in Q4 2025, the same number as Q4 2024.
Why did Apple’s market share fall despite unchanged shipments?
The broader PC market expanded in Q4 2025, so flat Apple volumes represented a smaller percentage of a larger total.
What caused the PC market growth in 2025?
IDC points to memory shortages prompting inventory buying, the end of Windows 10 support, and early-year tariff concerns as contributors.
Will these trends affect Macs or Apple’s strategy in 2026?
not confirmed in the source
Apple debuts ‘Apple Creator Studio’ subscription, here’s what you get Chance Miller Jan 13 2026 AAPL COMPANY MAC IDC Apple shipments unchanged as PC market grew 10% during Q4 2025:…
Sources
- Apple shipments unchanged as PC market grew 10% during Q4 2025: report
- IDC: Mac Shipments Continue to Soar
- PC Market Grew Almost 10% Last Quarter But Only …
- Apple leads global smartphone market with 20% share in …
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