Manufacturers shipped 22.11 million Chromebooks in 2025 against 270.22 million total PCs globally, placing Chromebooks at about 8.2% of PC unit shipments. Windows holds 71.68% of the global desktop OS market versus ChromeOS at 1.86%. This post covers 2025–2026 shipment data, OS share, K-12 dominance, vendor rankings, and the memory shortage forecast shaping 2026.
Chromebook Vs Windows Laptop Sales Statistics 2026 – TL;DR
- Chromebook shipments reached 22.11 million units in 2025, growing 10.6% in H1 2025.
- Global PC shipments hit 270.22 million in 2025, up 9.1% year-on-year (Gartner).
- Windows holds 71.68% global desktop OS share; ChromeOS holds 1.86% globally and 8.44% in the US (StatCounter).
- Chromebooks hold 60.1% of the global K-12 device market, with 93% of US school districts planning purchases in 2026.
- IDC forecasts an 11.3% decline in 2026 PC shipments and an 18.3% rise in average selling prices, driven by a memory shortage.
Chromebook growth is concentrated in education and the Americas. Windows leads enterprise and consumer segments. The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline on October 14, 2025 drove the 2025 shipment spike across both platforms.
Global Chromebook And Windows PC Shipments 2025
Gartner counted 270.22 million PC units shipped in 2025, up 9.1% from 247.65 million in 2024. IDC recorded 284.7 million, up 8.1%. Chromebook shipments reached 22.11 million units, giving Chromebooks 8.2% of shipments on the Gartner basis and 7.8% on the IDC basis.
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global PC shipments (Gartner) | 247.65M | 270.22M | +9.1% |
| Global PC shipments (IDC) | 263.3M | 284.7M | +8.1% |
| Chromebook shipments | ~19.99M | 22.11M | +10.6% H1 |
| Q4 2025 PC units (Gartner) | — | 71.5M | +9.3% |
| Q1 2026 PC units (Gartner) | — | 62.8M | +4% |
Source: Gartner and IDC, January 2026
The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline pushed enterprise fleet replacement into a single calendar year. Chromebook growth of 10.6% in H1 2025 tracked the same refresh cycle inside K-12 procurement.
Windows Vs ChromeOS Desktop Market Share 2026
Windows sits at 71.68% of global desktop OS share as of March 2026. macOS holds 15.70%. ChromeOS holds 1.86% globally, but the US figure runs 4.5× higher at 8.44%, driven by K-12 deployments. The gap reflects Chromebook concentration in North American schools rather than mainstream consumer adoption.
| OS | Global Share | US Share |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | 71.68% | ~80%+ |
| macOS | 15.70% | Higher (Apple’s home market) |
| ChromeOS | 1.86% | 8.44% |
| Other (Linux, unknown) | ~10.76% | Balance |
Source: StatCounter, March 2026
Chromebook Vs Windows Laptop Sales Statistics In K-12 Education
Chromebooks hold 60.1% of the global K-12 device market. 93% of US school districts plan Chromebook purchases in 2026. Around 38 million active Chromebooks sit in K-12 classrooms globally. Total K-12 mobile PC shipments hit 43 million in 2025, up 27% year-on-year (Futuresource Consulting).
Apple shipped 19.6 million iPads in Q4 2025, up 16.5%, and holds 52% of US school-issued tablets. iPads represent only 13% of overall school device deployments. Google Workspace for Education reaches 170 million students and educators across 230 countries.
| Segment | Share Of K-12 Device Market |
|---|---|
| Chromebooks | 60.1% |
| Windows laptops | ~27% |
| iPads (of overall school deployments) | 13% |
Source: Futuresource Consulting via Fosspost.org, May 2026
Chromebook Vendor Rankings 2026
Lenovo leads Chromebook education shipments with 3.5 million units in H1 2025 and 25.3% education share. HP holds 21.5%, Acer 16.8%, Dell 13.2%, and ASUS 8.4%. ASUS grew 43% year-on-year, the fastest among Chromebook vendors. The top 5 vendors account for more than 85% of Chromebook shipments.
| Vendor | Education Share | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo | 25.3% | +27% |
| HP | 21.5% | — |
| Acer | 16.8% | — |
| Dell | 13.2% | — |
| ASUS | 8.4% | +43% |
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Chromebook Tracker H1 2025
On the Windows side, Apple posted 12.7% YoY growth in Q1 2026, the fastest jump among major PC vendors (Gartner). Lenovo also leads the total PC market, and HP holds the #2 spot.
Regional Chromebook Vs Windows Laptop Sales Statistics
North America accounts for 51.95% to 52.4% of global Chromebook volume. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing Chromebook region with a 4.55% to 4.70% CAGR. Europe holds around 32% of the Chromebook market. Japan is the standout: total PC shipments grew 15.6% in Q1 2025, and GIGA School Program Chromebook shipments grew 20× year-on-year.
| Region | Chromebook Position | Windows/PC Position |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 51.95–52.4% of global Chromebook volume | ~25% of global PC market |
| Asia-Pacific | 4.55–4.70% CAGR — fastest region | APeJC PC: double-digit Q3 2025 growth |
| Japan (Q1 2025) | GIGA School: 20× YoY Chromebook growth | Total PC: +15.6% |
| Europe | ~32% of global Chromebook volume | Major Windows laptop market |
| Germany | Digital Pact for Schools 2.0 lifting units | Corporate refresh cycle running |
Source: Gartner April 2025, IDC October 2025, and market research aggregators, January 2026
2026 Outlook: Memory Shortage And Price Impact On Sales
IDC projects an 11.3% decline in 2026 PC shipments, with average selling prices rising 18.3% due to a persistent DRAM shortage. Q2 2026 PC shipments are forecast to fall 8.9% YoY. Budget Chromebooks in the $200–$400 range carry lower memory bills of materials than premium Windows laptops, giving Chromebook manufacturers more pricing headroom.
| Segment | Price Range | 2026 Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Chromebook | $200–$400 | Lower memory exposure |
| Chromebook Plus | $349–$699 | Overlaps with mid-Windows |
| Entry Windows laptop | $250–$500 | +18.3% ASP pressure |
| Premium Windows laptop | $600–$2,000+ | Highest DRAM cost impact |
Source: IDC WW PCD Market Q1 2026 Performance and 2026 Outlook, June 2026
The 18.3% Windows ASP rise narrows the price gap between entry Windows laptops and Chromebook Plus models. Enterprise Chromebook licensing runs $38 per device via Chrome Education Upgrade. ChromeOS logged zero documented ransomware attacks through 2026.
FAQs
How many Chromebooks were sold in 2025?
Manufacturers shipped 22.11 million Chromebooks globally in 2025, with H1 2025 growth of 10.6% year-on-year. That places Chromebooks at roughly 8.2% of the 270.22 million total PC shipments Gartner recorded for the year.
What percentage of laptops are Windows in 2026?
Windows holds 71.68% of the global desktop operating system market as of March 2026 (StatCounter). In the US, Windows share exceeds 80%. macOS holds 15.70% globally, ChromeOS 1.86%, and other operating systems the balance.
Do Chromebooks outsell Windows laptops in schools?
Yes in K-12. Chromebooks hold 60.1% of the global K-12 device market, and 93% of US school districts plan Chromebook purchases in 2026. Windows laptops hold roughly 27% of K-12 device deployments, with iPads at 13%.
Which company sells the most Chromebooks in 2026?
Lenovo leads Chromebook education shipments with 3.5 million units in H1 2025 and 25.3% education share (IDC). HP is second at 21.5%, Acer third at 16.8%, Dell fourth at 13.2%, and ASUS fifth at 8.4% but growing 43% YoY, the fastest of any Chromebook vendor.
Will Chromebook or Windows laptop sales grow more in 2026?
IDC forecasts total PC shipments will decline 11.3% in 2026 with 18.3% ASP inflation from a DRAM shortage. Chromebooks carry lower memory costs, so they are expected to be less severely impacted than premium Windows laptops. Chromebook units are projected at 22.94 million in 2026.
Sources
https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide
