Apple achieved the strongest growth of all major computer manufacturers in the US in the first quarter of 2025. While the overall PC market grew, Apple's increase was particularly striking. Sales increased by nearly 29 percent. What's behind this—and what's next?
If you've had the feeling recently that more and more people are turning to MacBooks and iMacs, you're not wrong. The latest figures confirm: Apple is selling significantly more devices than it did a year ago. But this isn't just due to demand; it's also due to clever planning. At the same time, the data shows that growth isn't necessarily expected to continue. You can find all the background information here.
Apple's sales figures rise by almost 29 percent
In the first quarter of 2025, Apple shipped 2.705 million desktop and notebook devices in the US, compared to 2.102 million in the same period in 2024. This represents an increase of 28.7 percent – the highest growth among the five leading vendors in the market.
Apple continues to expand its market share
Apple's market share rose from 14.2 to 16.0 percent in the first quarter. No other provider was able to increase its share as much. This significantly improved Apple's market position.
The entire market is growing – but Apple’s growth is significantly higher
In total, approximately 16.9 million desktop and notebook devices were shipped in the US in the first quarter of 2025. This is 15 percent more than in the same period in 2024. Apple, with its growth of almost 29 percent, significantly exceeded this general trend.
Reasons for the strong growth
A key factor is that many suppliers—including Apple—increased their inventories in anticipation of planned tariff changes in the US. These proactive measures led to a high number of shipments, even if actual end-customer demand did not necessarily grow as strongly. Canalys , the market research firm behind the figures, emphasizes that the increase was primarily due to these anticipatory effects. As a result, warehouses have filled up across the board. This inventory overstock could slow sales again in the coming months.
Outlook for 2025 and 2026
For the full year 2025, Canalys forecasts comparatively low growth of 2 percent for the US PC market. A somewhat more significant growth of 4 percent is expected in 2026. To put this into perspective, a total of 69.2 million desktop and notebook devices were shipped in the US in 2024. This number is expected to rise slightly to 70.4 million in 2025 and then to 73.0 million in 2026.
Growth with reservations: Apple benefits from smart planning
Apple significantly outperformed its competitors in the first quarter of 2025. With nearly 29 percent growth and an increased market share, the company demonstrates that it continues to play a significant role in the US computer market. However, the strong sales figures are driven not only by demand, but also by inventory policies. Growth is likely to slow later in the year, even though Apple is performing well compared to other vendors. So, if you're thinking about a new computer, Apple is not only technologically interesting right now, but also a vendor that is clearly gaining ground. (Image: Apple)
