Apple had the strongest PC growth in Q1 2025, thanks largely to the launch of the new M4 MacBook Air.
A new report from Counterpoint Research shows Apple outpacing every other major brand in the computer space, even as the industry braces for potential setbacks from upcoming tariffs.
Apple Posts 17% Growth in a Growing Market
According to Counterpoint, global PC shipments jumped 6.7% year-over-year in Q1, reaching 61.4 million units. Apple, however, left that average in the dust with a 17% increase in shipments, the highest of any manufacturer.
The growth was mainly fueled by the M4 MacBook Air, which reviewers have called the best Mac for most people. Even though it wasn’t a dramatic redesign, the new Air hits the sweet spot in performance, price, and battery life, especially for users upgrading from older Intel Macs. At $999, it’s delivering a lot of Mac for the money.
Lenovo was the only other major player to see double-digit growth, with an 11% rise helped by AI-enabled PC expansion.
Small Market Share Gain, Big Momentum
Even with the strong performance, Apple’s market share only nudged up from 9% to 10%. That’s because the overall market also grew, driven by demand for new machines ahead of possible tariffs and the push toward AI-capable devices as Windows 10 support nears its end.
Still, the momentum is clearly in Apple’s favor, especially with its in-house chips powering AI features and performance gains.
Tariff Concerns Could Slow Growth
The big caveat: this growth might not last. Counterpoint warns that the Q1 bump was partly due to vendors moving fast to ship products before new U.S. tariffs potentially hit. The Trump administration is reportedly considering new duties on semiconductors and tech hardware in the next quarter.
Related: China’s Smartphone Market Grows, But Apple Falls Behind
Even though Apple laptops were exempted from recent tariff rounds, the future remains uncertain. If the new duties go into effect, they could impact Apple’s supply chain and pricing flexibility, potentially slowing down the surge we’ve seen this year.
For now, Apple’s riding high on the strength of its M4 Macs, but the rest of 2025 could look very different.
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