The United States experienced over 25% growth in Mac shipments during the last quarter of the previous year, exceeding all other PC manufacturers. Acer was the only competitor with a notable 20% growth, while leading brands HP and Dell reported a decline in shipment numbers compared to the previous year.
A market research firm has pointed out that a significant factor may be Microsoft’s decision to compel organizations to upgrade millions of outdated PCs…
Significant Rise in Mac Shipments
According to Canalys, US Mac shipments surged by 25.9% year-on-year in Q4 of last year, surpassing the performance of all PC manufacturers. This led to an increase in Apple’s share of the (non-tablet) computer market from 14.4% to 17.1%.
Both Acer and Lenovo also experienced growth, albeit at lower percentages. Acer achieved a growth of 20%, while Lenovo saw an 11.8% rise in shipments.
Notably, the two market leaders – HP and Dell – witnessed their combined market share dip below 50%. HP’s shipment numbers decreased by 3.6%, whereas Dell’s fell by 2.4%.
Microsoft’s Windows 10 Decision Probably Influential
Last year, Microsoft announced it would cease support for Windows 10, with the discontinuation effective in October this year. This action includes the end of both technical assistance and security updates, rendering continued use of the OS unsafe.
“After 14 October 2025, Microsoft will stop providing free software updates via Windows Update, technical support, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still function, but upgrading to Windows 11 is highly recommended. Windows 11 offers a contemporary and efficient user experience tailored to current security demands.”
Millions of older PCs that cannot run Windows 11 now face replacement, compelling businesses to upgrade their systems.
Given that replacement is necessary, Canalys posits that some businesses may choose this moment to transition from PCs to Macs.
“The cycle of updating Windows presents an excellent opportunity for Apple to engage with both consumers and businesses considering an operating system switch. Historically, issues related to manageability and compatibility deterred large commercial clients from adopting Apple products. However, Apple has addressed many of these concerns, and with more competitive pricing and enhancements to its channel partner program slated for later this year, 2025 is expected to show Mac gaining market share in the commercial sector.”
Our Apple @ Work series has consistently emphasized the ongoing increase of Mac adoption in corporate environments.
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