Austin, Texas, USA, May 9, 2025
Q4 2024 AI PC Shipment Data Suggests a Long Road for Copilot+ PC Adoption, Preference for Mid-Range Systems
“The vast majority of AI PC shipments heading into 2025 prioritized mainstream pricing and existing cloud-based AI assistant experiences over the kinds of premium on-device AI capabilities advertised by the Copilot+ category,” said Olivier Blanchard, Intelligent Edge and AI Devices Practice Lead at Futurum. “PC buyers are clearly adopting AI PCs, but as front-end AI experiences continue to be mostly cloud-based rather than delivered on device, the majority of the market still feels no need to pay more for full Copilot+ PC specs. At least not yet.”
The research reveals several key trends shaping the AI PC landscape:
- Global QoQ (Quarter over quarter) AI PC adoption between Q3 and Q4 2024 grew 13.5% in the commercial segment and 7.2% in the consumer segment.
- Laptops dominate the AI PCs market with $8.04 billion, capturing 67.8% of the total market share, driven by strong consumer and enterprise demand for portable, AI-capable devices.
- Desktops account for $1.92 billion, representing 16.2% of the market, supported by continued usage in fixed-location business environments and educational institutions.
- Workstations contribute $1.89 billion, making up 16.0% of the total share, driven by high-performance requirements in sectors such as engineering, data science, and creative industries.
Figure 1: Q4 2024 AI PC Q/Q Growth Rates by End User
The medium-priced segment ($1000–$2000) dominates the AI PC market with a combined value of $6.60 billion, accounting for 55.7% of total sales, reflecting strong demand for balanced performance and value across laptops, desktops, and workstations. High-end models (>$2000) contribute $2.95 billion, or 24.9% of the market, driven by professional and enterprise users needing advanced capabilities, particularly in the workstation category. Meanwhile, entry-level models (<$1000) represent $2.29 billion, comprising 19.4% of total sales, supported by demand from budget-conscious consumers and institutional buyers, especially within the laptop and desktop segments.
Lenovo continued to lead the AI PC market in Q4, with 22.8% market share, followed by HP and Dell (17.9% and 14.8% respectively). Apple and Samsung rounded out the Top 5, with 14% and 12.6% respectively.
Figure 2: Market Share, AI PCs Q4 2024 in USD
“The value-to-price equation points to a fairly clear sweet spot for the majority of the AI PC market,” noted Blanchard. “While one in four PC buyers is clearly looking for performance and premium experiences in higher price bands, the remaining 75% are more focused on finding the goldilocks zone of AI PC value, with a little over half landing in the $1,000 to $2,000 price band.”
Another data point worthy of note is that over 90% of revenue from AI PC shipments in Q4 still came from AI PCs with fewer than 40 TOPS on the NPU, signaling that Copilot+ PCs are not yet anywhere close to becoming the dominant adoption driver for AI PCs. That distinction goes to mid-range AI PCs delivering 20-39 TOPS on the NPU, and may continue until compelling on-device AI assistants and agentic experiences begin to replace cloud-based ones.
Read more in the “Q4 2024 Consumer and Enterprise AI PC devices Spot Check Report” on the Futurum Intelligence Platform.
About Futurum Intelligence for Market Leaders
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Other Insights from Futurum:
Futurum Study: 62% of AI PC Adoption Supports Efforts To Futureproof Organizations For AI
Why 18A Can’t Come Too Soon for Intel’s AI PC Processor Business – Report Summary
Unpacking the Benefits of AI PCs – Six Five On The Road
Author Information
Research Director Olivier Blanchard covers edge semiconductors and intelligent AI-capable devices for Futurum. In addition to having co-authored several books about digital transformation and AI with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman, Blanchard brings considerable experience demystifying new and emerging technologies, advising clients on how best to future-proof their organizations, and helping maximize the positive impacts of technology disruption while mitigating their potentially negative effects. Follow his extended analysis on X and LinkedIn.
