PC shipments grew in Q3 2019 thanks to Windows 10 refresh

The PC market grew between 1% and 3% in Q3 2019, according to research firms Gartner and IDC. After six years of quarterly PC shipment declines, 2018 was mixed, with negative, flat, and positive quarters. 2019 is doing slightly better: Q1 was negative, but Q2 and Q3 were positive.

Gartner and IDC analysts pointed to the Windows 10 refresh cycle in the business market as contributing to the past quarter’s gain. With Windows 7 hitting end of support on January 14, 2020, it seems like at least some businesses are trying to migrate to Windows 10 last-minute. Gartner said that U.S. tariffs on China-built mobile PCs had a minimal impact, while IDC warned of higher tariffs for PC makers on the horizon.