Mac Sales Surge in the U.S.: Is Microsoft to Thank?

Apple is making significant strides in the U.S. computer market! According to the latest report from Canalys, Mac shipments surged by 25.9% in the last quarter of 2024, outpacing all other PC manufacturers. This boost is partly attributed to Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10.

Mac Sales Picking Up Speed

While HP and Dell saw declines (-3.6% and -2.4%, respectively), Apple has been gaining ground, now holding 17.1% of the market share, up from 14.4% the previous year. Acer also experienced notable growth with a 20% increase, whereas Lenovo saw a more modest rise of 11.8%. Even more significant is the combined market share of HP and Dell dropping below 50%, a milestone not seen in years.

Windows 10: Microsoft’s Unintended Boost?

What could be the reason behind this surge? The answer might be found in Redmond. In fact, Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, including the cessation of technical support and security patches.

This move has not exactly worked in their favor: millions of PCs deemed obsolete will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11, prompting businesses to renew their computer fleets. And it appears Apple has taken this opportunity…

The Windows refresh cycle offers fertile ground for Apple to target both consumers and businesses that may be open to switching operating systems. Historically, management and compatibility issues have been highlighted as reasons why larger business customers steered clear of Apple products. However, many of these issues have been addressed by Apple, and with more competitive pricing and a redesign of its distribution partner program later this year, 2025 is expected to see Mac gain market share in the commercial segment.

Indeed, if you’re going to change machines, you might as well switch ecosystems. That’s what Canalys suggests. It seems more and more businesses have taken advantage of this forced transition to switch from PC to Mac.

Is Apple finally winning over the business world? Until now, enterprises hesitated to adopt Macs due to compatibility and management issues. But the company has worked hard – in terms of hardware and especially marketing/communication – to remove these barriers. However, some point to more competitive pricing campaigns (in the USA!) and a new distribution program set for 2025.

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