Global notebook shipments (excluding detachable models) in the first quarter of 2025 were better than expected, decreasing by only 7.6% from the previous quarter. The notebook market entered the traditional off-season, and most brand vendors had already stocked up in advance in the fourth quarter of 2024 to cope with the imminent arrival of US tariffs.
The high inventory level in the channel resulted in weaker shipment momentum in January and February 2025, but in March, brand vendors stepped up shipments to increase inventory in the US channel before Trump implemented the reciprocal tariffs.
March shipments rebounded also due to a seasonal boost. Shipments to the enterprise notebook market were stable in the first quarter thanks to support from replacement demand. The education market saw a significant quarterly growth due to a substantial rise in shipments supporting Japan's NEXT GIGA education project.
Chart 1: Key factors affecting 1Q25 global notebook shipments: Supply
Chart 2: Key factors affecting 1Q25 global notebook shipments: Demand
Chart 3: Key factors affecting 1Q25 global notebook shipments: Brands
Chart 8: Global shipments by major vendor, 1Q24-2Q25 (k units)
Chart 17: Taiwan and Global notebook shipments, 2020-2024 (k units)
Chart 19: Global shipments by major vendor, 2010-2014 (k units)
