Higher ed PC market on track for full-year growth despite slow H1

After a subdued start to 2025, the global higher education PC market is regaining momentum, and Futuresource Consulting expects it to close the year with positive growth. Much of this uplift is the result of delayed procurement and replacement activity flowing through in the second half, as institutions return to more regular purchasing patterns and refresh cycles. 

“Although we saw a 3.2% retreat during the first half of 2025, with 11 million units shipped across the 20 countries we analysed, our data shows the market is regaining momentum,” says Iryna Kazanchuk, Senior Research Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “At the same time, universities and colleges are reigniting their technology strategies, with investment shifting towards cybersecurity, performance and AI capability. Overall, the outlook for the remainder of 2025 is one of steady improvement.” 

Procurement cycles and platform shifts

The new Futuresource EdTech report also highlights the influence of extended replacement timelines and budget realignments. This is particularly dominant across the USA and Western Europe, where institutions are taking divergent approaches, while also responding to rising data security requirements. 

Higher education institutions are taking a nuanced approach to device strategies, aiming to provide students with the mobility needed for campus life while also ensuring access to the powerful, high-performance computing resources required for sophisticated, compute-intensive programs and projects. This balance means universities are not only offering lightweight, portable devices, but are also investing in workstation-level machines and on-campus high-performance labs, so students have the tools necessary to tackle demanding coursework and innovative research across disciplines.  

“We’re seeing a clear move towards higher-spec devices,” says Kazanchuk. “Cybersecurity, performance and longevity are becoming procurement essentials. Although affordability remains important, the emphasis has shifted away from a focus on the lowest upfront cost.” 

Market correction and a new equilibrium

Moving forward, Futuresource expects the market to see a decline of around 3.6% in 2026, although the data indicates this is a broader natural market correction rather than an ongoing downturn. As higher education institutions adapt to tighter budgets, longer refresh cycles and more selective device strategies, shipment volumes will stabilise, with an expected CAGR of -0.1% between 2025 and 2030. 

“As investment shifts towards AI integration, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, this will help to sustain value, even as overall volumes moderate,” says Kazanchuk. “This reveals a more measured, maturity-driven phase for the market, in which procurement decisions are increasingly shaped by performance, longevity and institutional priorities, rather than replacement urgency.” 

 The latest Futuresource Higher Education PC Market Sizing report provides global and regional market forecasts by product type, value and volume, along with analysis of technology trends, procurement dynamics and institutional priorities. 

For more information or to purchase the report, please contact daniel.perman@futuresource-hq.com.