channel partners Archives

Winsage

October 14, 2025

PC shipments rise nearly 10% in Q3 2025 ahead of Windows 10 end-of-support

Global PC shipments increased nearly 10% year-on-year in Q3 2025, totaling 75.8 million units, according to IDC, while Omdia reported 72 million units and a 6.8% growth. The transition to Windows 11, driven by the end of Windows 10 support on October 14, has prompted users to upgrade their hardware. However, many users still operate on Windows 10 or outdated hardware, with only 39% of PC channel partners reporting that most customers have upgraded. Japan and China are leading in growth due to large-scale refresh initiatives, while North America is experiencing subdued momentum due to economic uncertainty. Lenovo shipped 19.4 million units, HP 15 million, and Apple saw a 13.7% increase in shipments. The introduction of new chipsets is fueling competition in the high-performance market, leading to the emergence of the "AI PC" phase, which aims to integrate AI capabilities directly into devices.

Winsage

October 9, 2025

Omdia: Global PC market grew 7% in Q3 2025 as Windows 10 end-of-service deadline nears

In the third quarter of 2025, global desktop and notebook shipments reached 72 million units, a 6.8% increase from the previous year. Notebook shipments rose by 4% to 57.2 million units, while desktop shipments surged by 17% to 15.2 million units. This growth is attributed to the upcoming end-of-support deadline for Windows 10, prompting demand for upgrades. A September 2025 survey indicated that only 39% of B2B customers had upgraded their PCs, with 18% planning to continue using Windows 10 after the deadline. Key industry players like Qualcomm and Intel are launching new products, with CES 2026 expected to highlight innovations in PC technology. In terms of vendor performance for Q3 2025: - Lenovo shipped 19.4 million units (26.7% market share, 17.4% growth). - HP shipped 15.0 million units (20.7% market share, 10.7% growth). - Dell shipped 10.1 million units (14.0% market share, 2.6% growth). - Apple shipped 6.6 million units (9.0% market share, 4.3% growth). - Asus shipped 5.8 million units (8.0% market share, 7.1% growth). - Others accounted for 15.6 million units (21.6% market share, -3.8% growth).

Winsage

October 9, 2025

Windows 10 end of life driving sales

Hardware sales are increasing in both commercial and consumer markets as the end of support for Windows 10 approaches on October 14. Analyst reports indicate a notable rise in the European consumer PC market during the third quarter, driven by the need to upgrade before the deadline and the demand for AI-capable devices. Sales of laptops and desktops are expanding, with many devices featuring AI capabilities. Executives from Microsoft and Dell highlighted the end of life support and the rise of AI devices as key opportunities for channel partners to boost sales. Despite the impending deadline, many customers have not yet transitioned from Windows 10, presenting an opportunity for education on the importance of upgrading. The end of support poses risks such as increased cyber vulnerabilities and productivity disruptions for organizations with numerous devices. Experts suggest that businesses should focus on comprehensive technology upgrades that align with long-term goals, ensuring security, compliance, and agility.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

SMEs need channel help moving off Windows 10

71% of IT decision-makers view the transition to Windows 11 as an opportunity to enhance PC infrastructure. 64% of UK decision-makers consider the ability to run AI applications as critical for their organizations. Currently, 20% of customers have not started transitioning from Windows 10, 25% have completed the migration, and 44% are working towards the October end-of-life support deadline. Small firms are particularly lagging in this transition. Analysts predict a global PC market growth of 5.8% in 2025, with total shipments expected to reach 272 million units, following a 9% growth in Q1 and a 7.4% year-on-year improvement in Q2.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

Lenovo, Apple, and others post huge PC numbers, but behind it all is looming software panic

The global PC market saw a 7.4% year-on-year increase in shipments during Q2 2025, totaling 67.6 million units. This growth is primarily driven by urgent business upgrades due to the impending end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025, rather than a resurgence in consumer confidence. Businesses are refreshing their PC deployments, while consumer spending on personal devices has stagnated, with many delaying upgrades until 2026. Over half of channel partners expect growth in their PC business in the latter half of 2025, with nearly a third anticipating growth exceeding 10%. Lenovo led the market with 17.0 million units shipped, followed by HP with 14.1 million units, and Dell with a slight decline of 3.0%. Apple experienced a 21.3% increase to 6.4 million units, while Asus saw an 18.4% rise. Desktop shipments increased by 9%, and notebooks rose by 7%. The market dynamics are also influenced by evolving US tariff policies, which are reshaping the PC supply chain landscape.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

Windows 10 support ends soon, but shockingly, 35% of SMBs are either clueless or refusing to upgrade their systems

A recent survey by Canalys revealed that over a third (35%) of channel partners reported their small and medium-sized business (SMB) clients are either unaware of the upcoming end-of-service (EoS) deadline for Windows 10 or lack a plan to transition away from it. Additionally, 14% of respondents admitted they do not know that support for Windows 10 is ending on October 14, 2025. The market for business PCs is growing, with a 9.4% year-on-year increase in shipments, reaching 62.7 million units in Q1 2025. Experts warn that the lack of upgrade plans could lead to significant financial repercussions for SMBs, especially with rising tariffs and potential supply constraints. A structured approach for transitioning to Windows 11 is recommended, including assessing current hardware, evaluating application compatibility, developing a timeline for upgrades, budgeting for investments, training staff, and implementing endpoint security strategies.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

PHOTOS: Synnex’s “Seizing the device refresh opportunity” event

The transition to Windows 11 is seen as an inevitable shift that channel partners must embrace, presenting substantial opportunities for those ready to adapt. Thomas Tapsas, Director of Channel Sales at Synnex, compared this transition to the Y2K phenomenon, noting that four times as many PCs will require replacement. Synnex aims to assist partners in navigating this transition, emphasizing the need to rethink technology strategies and enhance customer offerings. The collaboration with Microsoft is intended to empower partners to fully leverage Windows 11 and maintain competitiveness in the market.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

Windows 11 offers massive benefits for users and great opportunities for the channel

The transition to Windows 11 is imminent, with significant opportunities for industry partners, as highlighted by Thomas Tapsas from Synnex. The end of technical support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025 means no further security or feature updates, and Microsoft 365 will not be supported on Windows 10. Approximately 5.7 million PCs in Australian commercial organizations are still running Windows 10, with over half unable to support Windows 11, necessitating the replacement of nearly 4 million computers before the deadline. Australia’s adoption rate of Windows 11 is around 38%, while over half of the UK market has already upgraded. Upgrading to new PCs running Windows 11 offers substantial hardware improvements, including better battery life and enhanced components. Newer PCs also support hardware protection for BitLocker-encrypted drives and experience 58% fewer security incidents. Organizations that have not begun the transition are approximately 300 days behind schedule in an average upgrade program that spans about 450 days.

Winsage

November 29, 2024

Australian organisations urged to avoid fallout from Windows 10 support deadline

Australian organizations face a significant supply chain challenge as support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025, potentially exposing them to data breaches and regulatory non-compliance. A report by CRN Australia indicates that many businesses are unprepared for the transition to Windows 11, with fewer than 200 business days remaining. A global shortage of devices may hinder the replacement of aging technology. Approximately 4 million to 5 million devices have been sold annually, but millions of Windows 10 PCs still require replacement. Continuing to use Windows 10 post-support may lead to non-compliance with cybersecurity insurance policies, reluctance from businesses to engage with unsupported environments, and application incompatibility. Microsoft and Dicker Data are working together to provide training for IT professionals and assist businesses in migrating applications. An extended support update program is available, but partners advise against it due to high costs associated with maintaining outdated hardware.

Winsage

November 28, 2024

Your next computer might not be an AI PC — and might even still run Windows 10

The global laptop market is projected to grow by 4.9% to reach 183 million units by 2025, driven by upgrade cycles in commercial sectors and the end-of-life for Windows 10 in October 2025. Currently, Windows 11 has a 36% market share. AI-integrated laptops, while gaining attention, have not significantly impacted market growth, as they are priced 10-15% higher than traditional laptops and many businesses are skeptical about their value. An Intel study indicates that users of AI-capable PCs face challenges in realizing benefits due to a learning curve. In Q3, AI PCs accounted for one in five new laptop shipments, with Windows Copilot+ PCs representing 53% of those sales. The transition from Windows 10 is expected to boost adoption of next-generation computing solutions.