The launch of the M4 MacBook Air back in March helped Apple enjoy faster growth than any other computer maker in the first quarter of the year, according to a new report.
However, there are concerns that this boost may be short-lived, due to the potential for tariffs to be imposed later in the year …
M4 MacBook Air
While the launch of the M4 MacBook Air may not have been an especially exciting update, reviewers agreed that this is the Mac most people should buy.
It was described as the perfect time for people to upgrade from an Intel model, delivering a huge amount of Mac for a $999 price.
Apple saw 17% growth in Q1
A market intelligence report from Counterpoint Research estimates that overall PC shipments grew 6.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of the year – but Apple was way ahead of the pack with a full 17% increase.
This was more than any other PC brand, with Lenovo the only other PC maker to see double-digit growth.
Global PC shipments grew 6.7% YoY in Q1 2025 to reach 61.4 million units, according to Counterpoint Research’s preliminary data. 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 […]
Apple and Lenovo delivered strong performances in the quarter, largely due to new product launches and market dynamics. Apple experienced 17% YoY growth in shipments, driven by its AI-capable M4-based MacBook series. Lenovo’s 11% growth reflected its expansion into AI-enabled PCs and its diversified product portfolio.
Admittedly the impact on Apple’s market share was limited, given that shipments of all brands were up, with a modest nudge from 9% of the market to 10%.
Tariff fears for the future
As we predicted, Apple has so far escaped the full impact of Trump’s new tariffs on tech manufactured overseas, but it’s unclear how long that will remain the case.
Counterpoint says the first quarter of the year drove a spike in demand which may not last.
This surge may be short-lived, as inventory levels are likely to stabilize in the next few weeks. The impact of the US tariffs is expected to dampen the growth momentum in 2025 […]
Despite recent US exemptions removing tariffs on laptops, uncertainty persists as the Trump administration is planning to impose new duties on semiconductors and other tech products within the next quarter.
My money remains on a resolution, but there’s no denying the fact that it’s impossible to predict what the current administration might do next. The latest development is the imposition of a new tariff on South East Asia solar panels … of 3,521%.
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