Early Q2 PC trends: Desktops defy expectations while consumer channels lead the charge

Figures from CONTEXT show standout growth amid an overall slowdown typical of post-quarter seasonality

Positive momentum continues for PC desktops, while consumer channels outpace commercial in notebook distribution, highlighting a shifting go-to-market dynamic in Europe’s PC segment.

That is according to early second quarter figures from market intelligence firm CONTEXT, as new data from the first few weeks of April show desktop sales have continued to perform well following a surprisingly strong Q1 2025.

The standout growth comes amid an overall slowdown typical of post-quarter seasonality and fewer trading days in mid-April.

"The strength of the desktop market is remarkable," said Marie-Christine Pygott, senior analyst at CONTEXT.

"While the end of Windows 10 support plays a role, the more significant driver appears to be a severely aged installed base. Businesses that still rely on desktops are finally upgrading systems that haven’t been refreshed since before the pandemic."

Mini PCs are leading the resurgence according to CONTEXT’s figures.

These compact, energy-efficient devices are proving to be a cost-effective alternative to full-sized systems, offering improved performance and space-saving benefits that are resonating across European markets, the analyst house said.

Notebooks, meanwhile, have settled back to average levels following a quarter-end peak, with consumer channels continuing to outperform commercial segments.

Growth in consumer notebook sales remains strong in countries like France and Poland, although the performance in France is driven largely by changes in OEM routes to market rather than underlying consumer demand.

By contrast, commercial notebook sales remain tepid in major economies like Germany and France, where ongoing business caution and macroeconomic uncertainty continue to weigh on investment decisions.

The regions with the largest year-on-year Q1 2025 growth were Latvia (138.1 per cent), Estonia (37.7 per cent), Denmark (33.9 per cent) and Norway (19.1 per cent).

The UK grew nine per cent.

"The gap between consumer and commercial performance underscores just how cautious businesses remain, even with recent positive GDP figures from France and Germany," added Pygott.

"We're seeing more encouraging activity in the UK and Poland, particularly around Windows 11-driven refresh cycles, but widespread commercial momentum is still lacking."