Canalys: AI-enabled PC shipments to reach 13.3 million units in the third quarter of 2024

The latest data from Canalys shows that in the third quarter of 2024, shipments of AI-enabled PCs reached 13.3 million units, accounting for 20% of total PC shipments in the quarter. AI-enabled PCs are defined as desktops and laptops that include chipsets or modules specifically designed for AI workloads (such as NPUs). As these devices gain popularity, sales of this new class of PCs have grown 49% sequentially. For the first time, Windows devices accounted for the majority of AI-enabled PC shipments, accounting for 53%. While the Windows 11 update cycle and processor roadmap will continue to drive penetration, a key challenge ahead will be convincing customers to future-proof their devices for a boom in on-device AI use cases.

“Progress on the AI ​​PC roadmap maintained a strong pace in the third quarter of 2024,” said Ishan Dutt, chief analyst at Canalys. “Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon X-series chips had their first full quarter of availability, AMD brought Ryzen AI 300 products to market, and Intel officially launched its Lunar Lake series. However, both x86 chipset vendors are still waiting for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC support for their products, which is expected to be released this month.”

“Despite the positive momentum, there is still a lot of work to be done to convince channel partners and end customers of the benefits of AI PCs,” Dutt said. “This is especially true for premium products like Copilot+ PCs, which Microsoft requires to have at least 40 NPU TOPS, among other hardware specifications. A November survey of channel partners showed that 31% of respondents did not plan to sell Copilot+ PCs in 2025, and another 34% expected such devices to account for less than 10% of PC sales next year. With less than a year until Windows 10 end of support, the next few quarters will be a critical opportunity to drive upgrades to a large portion of older PCs to AI-enabled PCs.”

Vendor and Platform Highlights

Total Windows AI-enabled PC shipments grew 93% quarter-over-quarter, accounting for 12% of total Windows PC shipments in the third quarter. "Currently, there is little differentiation between the major Windows vendors in terms of the percentage of AI-enabled PC shipments as a percentage of their overall shipments," said Canalys analyst Kieren Jessop. "The key to their future success in this area will depend on differentiation beyond hardware."

HP highlighted its work with ISVs and third-party developers to deliver on-device AI experiences at its "Imagine AI" event in September. Meanwhile, Lenovo has focused in recent months on proprietary AI tools and agents embedded in its PCs, such as its Creator Zone, Learning Zone, and Lenovo AI Now. For vendors like Lenovo and Dell, whose products extend beyond PCs, on-device AI will become a key component in delivering broader, more comprehensive AI services and solutions.

Jessop added: “Apple’s strategic approach in this space is unique. It is leveraging its vertically integrated ecosystem to create features that don’t need to compete directly with Microsoft’s suite of productivity tools, such as Copilot Pro for Microsoft 365, which is compatible with macOS. Instead, Apple can focus on differentiation at the hardware and OS levels, positioning itself to compete with Windows OEMs in an effort to gain market share during ongoing refresh cycles.”