The PC Comeback Is About To Intensify

This year has been a promising one for PC sales, rebounding significantly from the downturn in 2023. A recent study indicates that the positive trend is expected to continue and even enhance as we approach the holiday season for the PC market.

According to a report by Tom’s Hardware, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has published a new assessment outlining the holiday shopping intentions of individuals in the United States, with a notable interest in purchasing a variety of PCs and laptops.

Survey results reveal that a striking 51% of participants plan to buy a laptop as a holiday gift this year, while 35% intend to purchase a desktop or PC. This marks an increase of nearly 10% from the previous year.

Choosing from top-rated laptops remains a priority for many gift-givers, suggesting that numerous people will be delighted this holiday season. Broadening the analysis, approximately 233 million individuals are expected to buy electronics as gifts this year.

The findings stretch back to 2007, the year the first iPhone was launched, when only 46% of respondents indicated they would purchase tech gifts, compared to an impressive 89% this year.

The CTA speculates that excitement surrounding AI-enhanced PCs could be a factor in the surge from 2023 to 2024. However, various other reports suggest consumers are primarily upgrading their devices rather than actively seeking AI features. With the impending end-of-life for Windows 10 and innovations in battery longevity for recent laptops, there’s plenty of motivation for consumers to upgrade.

The last major cycle of device upgrades happened at the start of the pandemic, as people adapted to spending more time at home. Now, four years later, many are likely contemplating new devices.

The analysis was based on responses from 1,205 adults in the United States collected between August 27 and September 4, highlighting how early in the year people start planning their holiday shopping. Other trending tech gifts for this year include tablets (55%), webcams (26%), printers (35%), and Wi-Fi mesh routers (31%).

At the top of the wish list are laptops, followed closely by tablets, smartphones, wearables, and gaming consoles. As anticipated, most purchases are intended for children under 18 or significant others, so don’t expect to receive a laptop from a coworker or friend.