As Purchasing Director at Intec Micros, I’ve had a front-row seat to some interesting shifts in the UK PC market over the past few months. One of the most notable changes? The resurgence of the desktop PC.
While notebooks continue to hold steady, it’s desktops that are truly gaining momentum – and for good reason. I want to share a few insights into what’s driving this growth, what we’re seeing here at Intec, and how you can take advantage of it.
Desktops Leading the Charge
We’ve seen desktops outpacing notebooks in both revenue and unit growth recently – a trend that’s especially clear here in the UK. Earlier this year, desktop PC revenue in the UK jumped by over 22% year-on-year, and unit volumes rose too this is in comparison to notebook revenue rising by 7%. Businesses across sectors are refreshing their hardware estates, and desktops are proving to be the go-to solution.
From our perspective, it’s easy to see why: desktops offer great performance, long-term value, and are easy to support – particularly in office-based and hybrid environments where reliability and uptime matter.
What’s Behind the Growth?
Two main factors are driving this shift:
Windows 10 End-of-Support – With Microsoft ending support in October 2025, many organisations are already planning ahead. Customers want to avoid last-minute disruption and are choosing to upgrade now to systems fully compatible with Windows 11.
Ageing Infrastructure – A lot of companies are still running hardware that’s well past its best. The result? A natural wave of refresh activity. And desktops, in many cases, provide the most straightforward and cost-effective path forward.
Why the UK is Leading the Way
The UK market, in particular, stands out. We’ve seen strong demand from both commercial clients and public sector organisations. Desktops are being chosen not just for their performance, but also for their cost-efficiency – something that’s top of mind for many of our partners right now.
Our HP desktop range has been especially popular. These systems consistently deliver in terms of performance and reliability – and we’re pleased to be holding strong stock levels, ready for immediate dispatch.
Mini PCs Making a Big Impact
One trend that’s caught my eye is the rising popularity of mini PCs. These small-form-factor devices are compact, energy-efficient, and still pack plenty of power. They’re ideal for modern office setups, educational institutions, and front-of-house environments where space is at a premium. They're so compact we can even fit 100 on a pallet for delivery!
We're seeing more and more UK organisations adopt mini PCs as part of their modernisation strategies, and the interest is only growing.
Notebooks Still in the Mix
While desktops are leading the growth curve, notebooks continue to have an important role – especially for mobile teams and hybrid workers. The growth may be more measured, but it's steady.
We’re also starting to see a shift toward AI-capable notebooks. Most newer devices – especially those with the latest Intel or AMD processors – are “AI-ready,” even if many users aren’t actively leveraging AI features just yet. As these capabilities become more relevant, these systems are likely to form a bigger part of the product mix.
What This Means for You
With Windows 10 reaching end of life and hardware refresh cycles ramping up, it’s a great time to take a fresh look at customers’ estates. Whether it’s a complete refresh or select upgrades for key users, our team at Intec is ready to support you.
We’ve got excellent availability of HP desktops, a strong and growing range of mini PCs, and a healthy pipeline of AI-ready notebooks. More importantly, we’re here to offer you tailored advice, competitive pricing and fast delivery – all backed by a knowledgeable team that’s invested in your success.
Let’s Talk
If you haven’t already, speak to your account manager about the white-label marketing materials we’ve put together to help you educate and engage your customers. We’re committed to helping you make the most of this momentum – and ensure your customers are ready for what’s next.
Ryan
Purchasing Director, Intec Micros