Intel Dominates the PC Processor Market, Leaving AMD and Apple in the Dust

New Market Report Highlights Significant Disparities in CPU Shipments between Intel, AMD, and Apple

Intel’s dominance over AMD highlighted | ENBLE

Intel Core i5-14600K processor inside its socket Jacob Roach / ENBLE

It’s no secret that between Intel and AMD, it’s Intel that holds the majority of the market — but a recent market analysis report really highlights just how much Intel beats both AMD and Apple. While both Intel and AMD make some of the best CPUs, and Apple has its own excellent proprietary silicon, Intel’s CPU shipments trump them both. The report tells us that Intel controls a whopping 78% of the PC processor market.

The information comes from Canalys, a PC industry research firm. It’s worth noting that it excludes tablets, which would have bumped up Apple’s numbers a bit, as well as Qualcomm’s. But zooming in on the PC CPU market alone, including desktops and laptops, tells a different story.

Intel, AMD, and Apple’s Market Share

Over the course of 2023, Intel shipped 50 million CPUs globally, while AMD shipped 8 million, and Apple only 6 million. This translates to a 78% market share for Intel and 13% for AMD, while Apple accounts for about 8% or slightly more. The rest belongs to MediaTek, Qualcomm, and ARM.

The market share between Intel, AMD, and Apple Canalys

For Intel, shipments increased by 3% during 2023, while AMD saw a decline of 1% and Apple fell by 4%. Canalys also notes that Intel’s overall PC shipment revenue went up by 2% year-over-year to $40 billion. Meanwhile, Apple’s revenue hit $8 billion in the final quarter of 2023, representing 8% year-on-year growth, and AMD saw 6% growth with $8 billion in revenue.

PC Vendors and Their Impact

The research firm also analyzed the global PC shipments and revenue on the basis of which PC vendor shipped the most computers in the past year. It turns out that Lenovo, Dell, and HP absolutely dominate that space, accounting for over 70% of all Intel CPU shipments. The split between Lenovo and HP was pretty even, at 25% and 23%, respectively, while Dell held 19% of the share.

For AMD, the split was a little different — Lenovo made 40% of all AMD-based computers, followed by HP with 23%, and Dell with a measly 3%. Asus was more prominent here, at 14%. These numbers aren’t exactly surprising. If you’re in the market for a laptop, chances are that it’ll be made by one of these four companies, although laptops with AMD chips are much harder to spot.

Intel’s Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Intel’s had a few rough patches in 2023, with the company reporting its largest financial loss ever with a 133% drop in earnings per share and a 36% year-over-year drop in revenue. However, Canalys’ report shows that the company is still doing well despite the financial losses.

As always with these reports, it’s important to note that shipments don’t equal sales, but the fact that these companies are shipping such massive numbers of CPUs shows that we’re dealing with a healthy, growing PC market.

Q&A Section

Q: Why does Intel have such a dominating market share? A: Intel’s dominance can be attributed to its long-standing reputation in the market, strong brand recognition, and a wide range of products catering to various consumer needs. Additionally, Intel has successfully built partnerships with major PC vendors, solidifying its position as the go-to choice for customers.

Q: What challenges does AMD face in competing with Intel? A: AMD faces several challenges in competing with Intel, including brand perception, availability of products across different price points, and limited partnerships with PC vendors. Although AMD’s CPUs have gained popularity in recent years, they still have some catching up to do in terms of market share.

Q: Is Apple’s lower market share due to the limited availability of its CPUs? A: Yes, Apple’s lower market share is partly due to the fact that their CPUs are proprietary and only available on Apple devices. This limits their overall market reach compared to Intel and AMD, which offer their CPUs for a wide range of PCs and laptops.

Future Developments and Outlook

Looking ahead, the trends in the PC processor market indicate continued competition between Intel and AMD. While Intel remains dominant, AMD has been making strides with its Ryzen processors, gaining recognition for their performance and value. As technology advances and consumer demands evolve, it will be interesting to see how these companies adapt and innovate to maintain their market positions.

In conclusion, Intel’s stronghold on the PC processor market is undeniable. With their impressive shipments and market share, they continue to be the top choice for users worldwide. However, competition from AMD and Apple should not be underestimated, as both companies have the potential to disrupt the market with their innovative offerings.

References:Best CPUs: AMD 7-7800X3D vs. Intel Core i314700KBest 2-in-1 Laptop Deals: Turn Your Laptop into a TabletCanalys report on PC processor market