PC Shipments Soar As Looming Tariffs Spark An OEM Buying Frenzy

Yes, we're as fatigued as you are about the constant chatter surrounding tariffs (almost as much as AI-this and AI-that). Be that as it may, they are having an impact on the technology industry. The situation remains fluid, but with higher tariffs looming, OEMs have evidently decided to stockpile systems, which in turn drove up PC shipments in the first quarter of 2025.

According to the bean counters at Counterpoint Research, global PC shipments jumped 6.7% year-over-year to 61.4 million units in the first quarter. The market research firm says tariffs were the primary driver, though it also credited the rise of AI-enabled PCs for the shipment surge. It may not last, though.

"The growth was mainly driven by PC vendors accelerating shipments ahead of US tariffs and the increasing adoption of AI-enabled PCs amid the end of Windows 10 support. However, this surge may be short-lived ...