According to preliminary tracking data from international data company IDC, after two years of decline, the global traditional PC market resumed growth in the first quarter of 2024, with 59.8 million units shipped, up 1.5% year on year, and global PC shipments returned to pre-pandemic levels.
As inflation declined, PC shipments began to recover in most regions, boosting growth in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). “Despite the challenges in the Chinese market, the recovery is expected to continue in 2024 as new AI PCs are launched later this year and commercial customers begin upgrading devices purchased during the pandemic,” said Jitesh Ubrani, IDC's global mobile device tracking research manager. As shipments increase, AI PCs are also expected to be sold at higher prices, which provides more opportunities for PC and component manufacturers.”
Among the top five companies, Lenovo once again topped the list and surpassed the market by a large margin, according to IDC.
Since this year, Lenovo has been “flying fast” in the PC market. The strongest lineup of more than 10 AI PCs was unveiled at CES in January, AI PC products were further updated at MWC in February, and the world's first 17.3-inch Micro-LED transparent screen notebook concept machine was displayed, completely revolutionizing the user's interaction and creative experience. “Unfinished Research”, an independent cutting-edge research institute, recently released the major annual report “From Tool to Platform AI PC: The First AI Inclusive Terminal”. The report argues that AI PCs are the next generation of personal computing platforms, and that machine manufacturers play a decisive role in the process of creating AI PCs.
Recently, at the Lenovo Group 2024/25 fiscal year pledge conference that was just held, Lenovo Group Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing announced that on April 18, the Lenovo Innovation and Technology Conference Tech World will be held in Shanghai, and that AI PCs with five major characteristics will be the first to launch in the Chinese market. At that time, Lenovo Group will further explain the “AI for All” strategy and continue to promote the innovation and application of artificial intelligence in the fields of equipment, infrastructure and solutions. Intel CEO Pat Kissinger, AMD Chairman and CEO Su Zifeng, and Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Ammon will also speak at the conference.